A PROJECT TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF EX- INMATES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA
Project Goal
The goal of this project is to minimize the stigma associated with incarceration, provide knowledge and skills that will foster gainful employment, thereby, promoting successful reintegration of ex-inmates of Agodi custodial correctional centre into Oyo State society.
Project Objectives
The specific objectives of this project are to;- Recruit 50 ex-inmates of Agodi custodial correctional centre
- Encourage philanthropic organizations and individuals to adopt ex-inmate(s) for economic empowerment
- Implement Blue Gate empowerment model (Vocational training; Literacy and numeric education; Psychosocial counseling and mentoring) for recruited ex-inmates
- Empower ex-inmates with start-up materials
- Conduct high level advocacy visits to policy makers to generate political support for ex-inmates
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
Project LocationThis pilot project will be carried out in Ibadan, Nigeria among ex-inmates of Agodi Custodial Correctional Centre.
Sample SizeA total of 50 ex-inmates of Agodi custodial correctional centre in Ibadan will be recruited from Ibadan and its environs for this project.
Participants recruitmentThe participants for this project will be recruited and screened by Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Only participants recommended by PFN will be allowed to participate in this project.
PROJECT STRATEGY AND ACTIVITIES
Conduct advocacy visits to policy makers to generate political support for this ex-inmates’ project High level advocacy visits will be made to the Hon. Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Secretary to Oyo State Government and Commissioner for Women Affairs to discuss the challenges being faced by ex-inmates and solicit their political will to promote societal acceptance of ex-inmates. The interested policy makers will be appointed as “Advocates” for the project.
Encourage philanthropic organizations and individuals to adopt ex-inmate(s) for economic empowerment
The project team will also organize interactive meetings with the community gate keepers (religious, head of community-based organization and traditional leaders) to promote adoption of ex-inmate for economic empowerment. Philanthropic organizations and individuals through the gate keepers would be encouraged to adopt ex-inmate(s) for economic capacity building. The adopters will provide weekly/monthly transport and subsistence allowance for the adoptees during the training process. He/She is also expected to provide funding for the procurement of start-up materials for their adoptees upon completion of their vocational training.
Recruit ex-inmates and implement Blue Gate empowerment model
Blue Gate empowerment model had been previously tested and used among key population in Oyo, Osun and Ondo States. The model has three components which are [1] Vocational training & empowerment, [2] Literacy and numeric education [3] Psychosocial Counseling & Mentoring
- Vocational Training and Empowerment The participants will be trained in seven categories based on the ex-inmates’ interests which will include [1] Barbing [2] Phone repair and sales of accessories [3] Vulcanizing [4] Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and accessories business [5] how to bake and decorate cake including sugar crafts, [6] Make-up, Gele and Auto-gele, [7] how to make liquid soap and disinfectants, [8] Graphics design and word processing. The participants will be registered and enrolled with service providers for their training with adequate monitoring by the project team. Ex-inmates who successfully complete the training will be issued a certificate of completion and empowered with necessary start-up materials.
- Literacy and Numeric Education Participants will be provided with six months of literacy and numeric adult education. Five literate members of the groups will be employed as literacy volunteers to teach other members of the group on how to read and write, and how to perform basic numeric calculations. The training will be held twice a week at Blue Gate Initiative office, Ibadan from 9am-2pm.
- Psychosocial Counseling and Mentoring The participants will be provided with a 3-month psychosocial counselling and mentoring (PCM). Partnership will be sought from Departments of Guidance and Counseling, University of Ibadan to provide this component of the intervention. Participants will be grouped into cluster using local government area or through other important variable and provided with mentors who are lecturers and expected to meet with their mentees twice a week either at the University of Ibadan or Blue Gate Initiative Office. The PCM will hold after the literacy class and three lecturers will be engaged for this component of the intervention.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The project will run under the management of the Community Advisory Board (CAB). This will be highest decision making body for the project and members of this committee will meet monthly to discuss every aspect of the project. Membership of this committee will include 3 representatives of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, 4 representatives of the donor/sponsor and 3 representatives of Blue Gate Initiative. The CAB members are expected to provide oversight for the project.
