FG Join Hand With Civil Society For Mental Health Reform For Prisons

Federal Government don approve new programme wey dey tackle mental health wahala for Nigeria prisons as civil society organisations (CSOs) and private partners don launch initiative wey go support rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. Vcare for Development Foundation, together with Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation and Nigerian Correctional Service, don introduce Reform360: Reinvent, Reconnect, Reintegrate. Di programme, wey Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited dey support, dey put mental health for centre of correctional reform. For Male Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, over 100 inmates don complete Mental Health First Aider training, with 107 people, including seven correctional officers, collect certificates. Di initiative dey presented as model for human-centred rehabilitation.

Beneficiaries don talk di impact. One inmate talk say, “I almost lose hope, but dis programme bring me back to life. I don rebirth.” Another, cell elder, talk say, “Dis one no only teach us, e soft our hearts.” Correctional officer still observe changes for participants: “You fit see am for dia eyes, some sit silent, others dey nod slow, dey think deep. One inmate wey dey withdrawn don start dey bathe, dey smile, dey reconnect with others.” FG talk say di programme align with national priorities for rehabilitation and reintegration and contribute to UN SDGs, especially Goal 3 (good health) and Goal 10 (reduce inequality). Di initiative dey tackle stigma, provide structured mental health support, create safer prison environment and prepare inmates for society. Vcare and Sterling Oil don pledge to continue support Reform360, wey dey part of bigger effort to modernise Nigeria correctional system and make mental health care cornerstone of rehabilitation policy.