Two inmates of the am Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre, Lagos State have won a brand new laptop and coding book as Access for Youths to Information Technology Initiative (AYIITI) and Anchor Heritage Initiative have partnered the custodial centre to train 20 of them in computer programming.
The new laptop and coding book were won after a coding competition organised for the inmates during their graduation ceremony which was held at the custodial centre midweek.
In attendance were the Controller of Corrections, Lagos State Command, CC Ben-Robbi Freedman, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre, DCC Michael Anugwa and other personalities.
In his address, Freedman expressed delight at the occasion and appreciated the partners for the training.
He said the custodial centre had secured approval from the National Open University of Nigeria to award diploma certificates in various fields to inmates after being trained by the university.
He charged the trainees to put whatever they had learnt into practice.
“I appreciate our partners for a job well done. I will like to tell you all that the custodian centre has secured approval with NOUN to train the inmates in various fields and issue diploma certificates to them after the training.
“I beseech you to put whatever you have learnt into practice,” he said.
Also speaking, the DCC charged the inmates to comport themselves well wherever they find themselves.
He advised them to take advantage of the programme to acquire relevant skills that would make them employable after their release from the centre.
While presenting the laptop and coding book to the winners, AYIITI Managing Director and Founder, Akinyele Olubodun, said the initiative dated back to 2011 in his quest to give back to the society.
The UNILAG graduate said the five-month training grilled the inmates from the scratch, but he was happy that it turned out to be be fruitful.
Speaking about the initiative, he said “it identifies with the vulnerable people from the margins of society, teaching them computer programming for ethical change.
“Programming pulled me out of poverty. It gave me my best memories and opportunities to be who I want to be.
“I believe my journey to freedom can be replicated for other children and adults living in marginalised communities by lowering the barrier to attaining programming knowledge.
“I choose to teach inmates computer programming because it teaches character reformation, resilience, logic, problem solving and patience.
“This is not just programming, it is programming for a better world.”
Bidemi Oladipo, the Chief Operating Officer, Anchor Heritage Initiative, said the initiative is partnering with other tech companies to train the inmates for onward transfer to NOUN to issue diploma certificates.
He said another class of the tech training would resume soon and the training would cover website development, graphics designs, photography and computer literacy among others.
