Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accompanied Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on a working visit to the Kuje Correctional Facility, where they assessed ongoing rehabilitation initiatives and engaged with inmates to advance the transformation of Nigeria’s correctional centres into true reformative institutions.
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The visit highlighted the facility’s robust programs aimed at equipping inmates with skills for societal reintegration. Osigwe commended the centre’s vocational, creative, and academic offerings, particularly noting that over 150 inmates are enrolled in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), including those pursuing postgraduate studies. He also praised the skill acquisition programs designed to impart marketable skills, enabling inmates to rebuild their lives post-release.
Reaffirming the NBA’s dedication to justice reform, Osigwe announced plans to leverage the association’s Pro Bono Centre to identify and provide legal representation for inmates lacking access to counsel. He stressed the critical role of forgiveness in the rehabilitation process, calling on Nigerians to embrace reformed individuals returning to their communities. “Then something struck me, in a man who has been condemned to death, teaching over 30 practices, general skills for me that’s rehabilitation,” Osigwe remarked during the visit. “That shows that the essence of a correctional facility has been achieved: to change them and prepare them for integration into society.”
In a bold commitment, Osigwe pledged to seek approval from the NBA’s National Executive Council at its next meeting to establish a dedicated fund offering interest-free loans or grants to released inmates. “And that’s why I’m leaving here with a commitment to seek and get the approval… to set aside a fund… to help them start up a business in life,” he stated. “As soon as we get that approval, we’ll put that fund in place.”
Dr. Tunji-Ojo echoed the collaborative spirit, underscoring his ministry’s resolve to conduct regular inspections, interact directly with inmates, and deepen partnerships with the NBA to build a correctional system rooted in dignity, justice, and genuine transformation. Addressing the progress observed, the minister highlighted the facility’s innovations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, contrasting it with past shortcomings. “Clearly, that we are seeing today I’m happy NBA Mr. President is here it’s quite different from the general perception,” he said. “Yes, the fact is we know there’s still a lot of work to be done. across the over 240 correctional centres that we have. But like I always say, the bad news is that we’re not yet where we want to be, but the good news is that we’re not where we were.”
Tunji-Ojo credited the Tinubu-led government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for driving these changes, noting ongoing construction and reforms in about 12 centres nationwide, including Kuje. “This whole innovation, the whole construction, everything you’re seeing happens under this particular administration… And we are glad that this government has been able to make impact,” he added.
The joint visit symbolizes a growing synergy between legal and governmental bodies to address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s correctional system, where overcrowding and delayed justice have long hindered rehabilitation. Stakeholders hope such initiatives will not only reduce recidivism but also foster a more humane approach to criminal justice, paving the way for broader societal healing.
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