No fewer than 243 inmates of the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre have been presented with their trade test certificates by authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT Command.
The presentations followed the successful completion of training and assessment in 11 vocational skills, as part of the Service’s continuing efforts to equip inmates with practical skills for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Sampson Duza said they were certified in trade and skil works such as Carpentry and Joinery, Tailoring and Dress Making, Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Poultry, Leather Work, Fisheries, Soap, Cream and Candle Making, Weaving and Textile, Hair Dressing and Body Care, Bricklaying and Masonry, and Solar Installation.
The presentation also featured a product exhibition showcasing various items produced by the inmates who were drawn from the three Custodial Centres in the Command.
Speaking the event the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Peter Jen, congratulated the beneficiaries and highlighted the range of reformatory programmes being implemented across custodial facilities under the Command.
He noted that the programmes are designed to provide inmates with education, vocational skills and other interventions necessary for their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche represented by the Deputy Controller-General of Corrections in charge of the Directorate of Inmates’ Training and Productivity, Nicolas Obiako, described the occasion as a celebration of transformation, hope, dignity, rehabilitation and second opportunity.
He explained that vocational training equips inmates with practical skills that can support legitimate employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance after release, stressing that effective rehabilitation must also incorporate education, counselling and psychosocial support.
In his remarks the Director, Skills Development and Certification, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Engr. Tiza Chila Shaakaa, said the Trade Test Certificate of Competence is an internationally recognised credential that provides a structured assessment of competence in technical and vocational trades.
He disclosed that 65 trades have been approved for trade testing certification in Nigeria, with the majority being hands-on skills.