Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has urged the Federal Government to empower inmates across the country with skill acquisition programmes.
Obi made this known in a post on his X handle on Thursday after visiting the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Onitsha on Wednesday, noting that the move would greatly rehabilitate inmates and contribute productively to societal development.
Obi asserted that empowering the inmates with skills will also prepare them to live more positive lives. While he commended the National Open University of Nigeria for establishing its study centre in the correctional facility.
“This will greatly go a long way in rehabilitating the inmates, mainly youths in the correctional facilities, and prepare them to live more positive lives and contribute productively to societal development.
“In tradition with my policy of celebrating with the distressed in our society, during seasons of celebration, yesterday being Christmas, I visited the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Onitsha, where I joined the Archbishop of Onitsha and Grand Patron of the Nigerian Correctional Centres, to spend time and interact with our brothers and sisters undergoing rehabilitation in the centre.
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“I was impressed on my visit today, to see that, through the intervention of Archbishop Okeke, their Skill Acquisition Centre is fully operational, and the inmates are already being equipped with different productive skills.
“Aside from the Skill Acquisition Centre, I was happy to learn that the inmates can now take their National Business and Technical Examinations Board examinations at the Centre,” he said.
“As one who believes deeply in human development through education as a critical tool for national development, I find the establishment of these educational facilities very commendable.
“I sincerely appreciate Archbishop Valerian Okeke for his constant intervention and immeasurable contributions to the correctional facility, and society at large. I urge the government to replicate such positive developments across the other correctional centres in the country,” he added.
