By Joy Onu
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in collaboration with Hope Behind Bars Africa and with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, has convened a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue themed Optimising Correctional Farm Centres and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Pathways for Inmates’ Reformation.
The engagement brought together government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society actors to explore sustainable strategies for strengthening correctional agriculture and improving rehabilitation outcomes across custodial centres nationwide.
In his opening remarks, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, emphasised that correctional farming goes beyond food production to focus on human transformation and second chances.
“Our correctional farm centres are not just about agriculture; they are about restoring hope, dignity, and creating pathways to a productive future for inmates,” he stated.
The Controller-General highlighted NCoS’s expanding agricultural initiatives, noting that the Service currently operates 12 agricultural projects, 9 piggery projects, 11 fisheries, and other agro-based projects nationwide. He stressed that these centres not only produce key commodities like rice, sorghum, millet, and vegetables but also equip inmates with practical, income-generating skills for life after custody.
He called on stakeholders to move beyond dialogue to concrete partnerships that will scale up impact, improve productivity, and strengthen reintegration outcomes.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Honourable Chinedu Ogah, OON, underscored the strategic importance of harnessing the Service’s vast arable land resources. He noted that agriculture remains a critical pathway to national food security and economic resilience, urging stakeholders to actively invest in unlocking the Service’s agricultural potential.
Also speaking, the Head of Programmes at International IDEA, Nigeria, Danladi Plang, described the Farming Justice Project as a significant step in advancing justice sector reform and sustainable development. He commended HBBA for its evidence-based approach, including baseline assessments and a context-driven training manual.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, stated that the engagement aimed to produce a clear, transformative roadmap anchored on structured Public-Private Partnerships. She urged participants to support inmates’ rehabilitation by patronising products from correctional industries showcased during the event.
A key highlight was a presentation by the Deputy Controller-General in charge of Inmates’ Training and Productivity, Kupan Amos, PhD, mni, who outlined the Service’s agricultural assets, production capacity, cottage industries, and the PPP provisions under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
The event also 
featured success stories from beneficiaries of the Farming Justice Project, presentation of reintegration starter packs, and the unveiling of a draft training manual to guide capacity-building efforts. Proceedings culminated in a panel discussion on leveraging PPPs to drive sustainable correctional agriculture, skills development, and effective reintegration pathways.
The Nigerian Correctional Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships and deploying innovative, inclusive approaches to inmate reformation and rehabilitation. The Service called on development partners, private sector investors, and other stakeholders to collaborate in unlocking the full potential of correctional farm centres as viable platforms for skills acquisition, economic empowerment, and national development.
