Tunji-Ojo harps on technology, classification as tools for inmates rehabilitation
By Kelechi Ogunleye
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says inmates’ classification and the deployment of technology are vital to managing Correctional Centres across Africa.
The minister said this at the opening of a Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification and the Use of Technology in Prison Settings in Africa, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference is themed “Prisoner Classification as the Foundation of Effective Prison Management”.
Tunji-Ojo said that the summit sought to equip participating African nations with modern practical strategies for safer, more efficient and rehabilitation-oriented prison administration.
He underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s correctional system.
According to him, effective prisoner classification is not merely an administrative tool; it is the bedrock of humane, secure and rehabilitative prison management.
“We must leverage technology to enhance security, reduce recidivism and transform our correctional facilities into true centres of reformation,” he said.
Also speaking, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Toure lauded Nigeria’s prison reforms.
Toure emphasised UNODC’s support for the Nelson Mandela rules and the responsible adoption of digital tools in prison settings.
Similarly, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale, Chairperson of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA) called for enhanced regional cooperation.
Thobakgale, who is also the National Commissioner of the South African Department of Correctional Services noted that inmates classification formed the foundation of effective prison management.
“Through shared knowledge and technological innovation, we can build more resilient correctional systems that prioritise both public safety and offender rehabilitation across Africa,” he said.
In the same vein, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, said that the conference provided a vital platform for participants to adopt best correctional practices.
“This conference provides a vital platform for us to adopt best practices in classification and technology deployment, as well as addressing overcrowding and improving rehabilitation outcomes in line with global standards,” Nwakuche said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had in attendance heads of Correctional Services from several African countries as well as international experts.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker