Prison is a nightmare that gets worse when the word Kirikiri is added. The facility in Apapa, Lagos hosts hardened criminals, enemies of the state such as coup plotters and indicted politicians.
It has also served as a slaughter slab for armed robbers and coup plotters who faced the firing squad. The horrible ace of prisons rightly sends shivers down the spines of people at the mention of its name.
Trepidation gives way to excitement
But on Friday, September 26, Kirikiri momentarily shed its scary toga as it opened its underbelly to visitors, though the high level security and perimeter fortification remained.
That was the day for the seeds of the Onesimus Project produced fruits for the Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN).
The screening at the gate and the ‘tagging’ at the front desk conjured up scary imageries, but the Public Relations Officer, Biyi Jeje, smoothly diffused the tension.
However, at the gate to the main prison arena, a reminder from a senior prison officer again raised the fear of visitors. “If you lose your tag, you automatically become a prisoner because you cannot go out,” he warned before opening the gate.
Tension was doused with the sighting of inmate footballers who excitingly played themselves away on the nearby pitch.
A few metres away, on the right of the gate, a structure radiated hope with its name, Freedom Chapel. The way people trooped there in a frenzy gave it away as the venue of a special event, particularly as the day was not a Sunday.
In the gathering were beautiful ladies in uniform radiating smiles and fulfilment so much they could be taken for special choir guests.
There were also men in uniform in lively mood. But their mood and dressing only hid their identities. They were prison inmates.
This came to light later when they were donned in graduation gowns. They were the purpose of the gathering. Graduands from the Onesimus Project, a recovery programme that equips inmates for useful life after prison.
Under the project, which started in 2009, inmates are trained in bead making, hat, tie and dye, weaving, catering, and other vocations. More than 100 inmates have benefitted so far.
Gratitude for life skills
This year, the Onesimus Project graduated 22 males and 15 females; 25 males and 14 females matriculated. All radiated joy uncommon with prisoners. But they have good reason to be in that mood.
They were leaving the prison equipped with the means of livelihood, which would take their minds away from crime and make them more useful to themselves, their families and the larger society.
One fact lends credence to this assumption – some former prisoners came back to participate in the graduation ceremony.
“I have finished my term. I came back from town to take part in the graduation. And there is no way I can miss it because I gained so much from it while I was here. What I learnt under the Onesimus Project has changed my life for the better,” one graduate, a male, said.
One female graduand said “when I leave here, I can never be involved in anything that will bring me back because I now have a good hand work.” She learnt bead making and weaving.
The matriculating inmates were also full of joy for getting admission into the programme. Inmates who saw their colleagues either graduating or matriculating could not hide their admiration.
Plans for expansion
Many inmates struggle yearly to get into the programme but the little resources cannot accommodate them all. This was disclosed in the speech by PFN Executive Director, Benson Iwuagwu, who solicited the support of corporate organisations and good Samaritans to expand Onisemus.
“We are appealing to corporate organisations and individuals to join in this service to humanity. To neglect prisoners is to neglect our well being,” he said.
He reiterated that the scheme seeks to empower inmates, deal with their personality and emotional engagements, and build them entrepreneurially to be useful after their sojourn in prison.
Iwuagwu recalled that the project was conceived after discovery that 75 per cent of those released from prison soon return because of inadequate mentoring during jail term.
He praised Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State for releasing “a whole faculty” to come to the prison to train the inmates; and also the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEDAN) for its “great input”.
Contributions and commendations
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, represented by Adewunmi Arogbo, applauded the PFN for the programme, which she described as one of the best things that can happen to prisoners.
She advised the graduads not to waste the opportunity given them to better their lives.
Controller of Lagos Prisons, Vincent Ubi, represented by D.C. Biyams, lamented the high rate of youth involvement in crime.
Ubi, who spoke on the topic, ‘Social Justice and Crime Control’, emphasised the need for social justice to reduce crime levels.
He commended the PFN for its selfless service to prisoners, pointing out that the graduands had acquired vocational training and “the people outside are waiting for them to come and contribute their quotas to the society.”
Other speakers included the representatives of Bishop David Oyedepo (PFN grand patron); Professor C.K. Ayo (Covenant University Vice Chancellor); Umar Masari (SMEDAN Director General); and Lagos State Justice Commissioner, Ade Ipaye.
Masari, represented by Yinka Fisha, reminded the inmates and graduands that they still have a second chance because “life is a journey and in every situation we find ourselves we should just be hopeful.”
Ipaye, represented by Babatunde Martins, highlighted the causes of injustice, insecurity, and lack of empowerment.
He advised the government to create an enabling environment that will make it hard to commit crime, stressing that many offences that land people in prison have elements of poverty.
An enabling environment, he stressed, involves the provision of electricity and other good things that make life worth living.
Ipaye urged the government to tackle prison congestion caused by inadequate facilities.
He lamented the delay in justice, advising the police, lawyers, and prosecutors to ensure justice administration because “some people go to prison because of circumstances beyond their control.”
Soul lifting song
The most memorable event was perhaps the beautiful rendition of worship songs by ‘Lifted Hands Worship Ministry’, which electrified the hall, with the inmates singing and dancing.
Two playlets elicited a combination of pity and joy because they highlighted the spiritual and physical transformation the graduands received through the Onesimus Project.
A sense of fulfilment was written all over them when they recited the Onesimus anthem.
“Onesimus project is a life recovery programme, reaching out with hope and love, making plain God’s plan for all …. Onesimus project giving your life meaning, all we know is newness of life, being who God wants us to be…” so went the first two of the three stanzas.
The chorus was “Onesimus project recreating a happier world with love.”
