Prison Inmates Full Projects.

The Sapele project was initiated to address the high rate of recidivism by providing inmates with tangible economic tools. Over a period of three intensive weeks, our team transformed a section of the Sapele Prison into a makeshift chemical laboratory.

Inmates were divided into specialized units. Group A focused on the base chemistry of liquid detergents, while Group B specialized in antiseptic formulations. The training didn't stop at production; we brought in business consultants to teach them about market pricing, cost-benefit analysis, and small-scale manufacturing management.

The result was the successful production of 500 liters of high-grade liquid soap, which was donated back to the prison clinic, immediately improving the hygiene standards of the facility. Each of the 85 participants received a certification recognized by our partner vocational institutes.

Building on the momentum from Sapele, the Benin City project at the White House Prison was designed for scale. This phase focused on industrial-grade disinfectants and laundry agents, catering to the larger population of the facility.

We introduced automated mixing equipment and professional-grade safety gear. The curriculum was expanded to include 'Train the Trainer' modules, where 10 standout inmates were coached to become instructors for future batches, ensuring the sustainability of the program long after our team departed.

By the end of the second month, the facility had established a 'Production Cell' capable of meeting all the cleaning needs of the prison, saving the administration significantly on maintenance costs while instilling a profound sense of purpose and dignity in the participating inmates.

Policy change is the bedrock of lasting reform. This workshop, held at the University of Benin Faculty of Law, served as a bridge between the street-level reality of prisons and the high-level decision-makers of the Nigerian judicial system.

Key stakeholders including the NBA Chairman and the FIDA President engaged in rigorous debate over the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. We presented raw data and testimonials from our vocational programs to prove that reform is more cost-effective than pure incarceration.

The white paper generated from this workshop was formally adopted by the state justice committee, leading to the fast-tracking of 150 'awaiting trial' cases and a commitment to include vocational training funding in the upcoming fiscal budget for correctional services.