The Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja has produced seven graduates in 2025, including one PhD holder and six Master’s degree holders, in what the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described as proof that correctional facilities can serve as true centres of reformation.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, the Minister said the feat reflects the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for education and rehabilitation within correctional centres. He noted that five more inmates are set to graduate this year, while 45 others are currently pursuing undergraduate degrees. Another 95 inmates are enrolled for NABTEB, and a separate 95 are sitting for NECO examinations.
Speaking during a visit to the Kuje facility, Tunji-Ojo encouraged inmates to take advantage of skill acquisition programmes designed to prepare them for life beyond custody.
“You’re not in prison, don’t let anybody make you believe you’re in prison,” he told the inmates. “You’re in a correctional centre. You’re here to be reformed, you’re here to be rehabilitated, you’re here to be transformed, and you’re here to become better individuals. And when you leave here, the world will be looking up to you to add your own quota to the development of this country.”
The Minister, who commended inmates engaged in tailoring, shoemaking, and soap production, said he desires to see them “adequately intellectually empowered to live a self-reliant and sustainable life.”
He also applauded the partnership between the private sector, civil society groups, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in supporting government efforts to give inmates a new lease of life.
