The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has empowered three of its freed inmates with occupational training and tools to enable them make a difference in the society.

The freed and empowered inmates are: Mr. Uche Utobo, who learnt tailoring; Mr. Ifeanyi Aguwagu, who learnt welding works; and Mr. Sunday James, who learnt carpentry.

Presenting the exceptionally talented ex-inmates and their occupational tools to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday, the Controller of Correctional Service in Enugu State, Mr. Joseph Emelue, said that the gesture was a routine of the NCoS to ensure that freed inmates contribute meaningfully to community and national development.

He said: “The NCoS is always positive about these exceptionally freed inmates that have been trained, re-oriented and empowered with occupational tools to face the world.

“Our service is that of rehabilitation whereby ex-offenders are actually reformed and equipped with skills to be able to live a law abiding and self-sustaining lives as they are discharged. That is what we are seeing here today.”

The Comptroller said “who did not say the cost of training and empowering the ex-inmates, noted that it would be difficult to quantify amount spent “since we are training them as our own children. Our happiness is that these ones had turned out exceptional and ready to contribute to their immediate communities and society at large,”

Emelue, however, advised serving inmates that custodial centres are not a punitive place but a place meant to give them new and better orientation and equip them for a life after serving their terms.

“Nobody comes to the correctional service to die; so the best option is for serving inmates to conform to the opportunities provided by the Federal Government and NCoS and utilise them for their own good.

“All we need from serving inmates is their ability to be willing to learn and add something new, beneficial and viable in their lives.

“We are always here and willing to inculcate the best orientation and life-style on them,” he added.

One of the freed and empowered inmates, Mr. Uche Utobo, responded that he appreciated the Federal Government and the NCoS for the opportunities of training and equipping them with tools.

Utobo spoke on behalf of the other freed and empowered inmates, assured that they would make a positive difference and mark within the society.

The climax of the event was the presentation of tailoring machine and associated tools; wielding machine and associated tools and carpentry machines and associated tools to the ex-inmates according to the occupation they learnt.