The federal government is working towards enhancing access to justice for citizens, especially young people.

Rinsola Abiola, the senior special assistant (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu on citizenship and leadership,, made this known at the launch of the vocational skills centre by the Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA) at the Dukpa Correctional Farm Centre, Gwagwalada, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The launch forms part of the organisation’s “Inside Out Hub” initiative which aims to redefine rehabilitation, reintegration, and restoration within the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

She said that the federal government was committed to ensuring that citizens, particularly young people, navigate the criminal justice system with ease.

She commended Hope Behind Bars Africa for its initiative in establishing the vocational centre, saying it aligned with the government’s goal of supporting the rehabilitation of inmates.

She urged stakeholders to support the government’s efforts in enhancing access to justice and promoting rehabilitation of inmates.

“It is crucial to acknowledge that individuals incarceration should retain their citizenship and deserve support and encouragement to lead a dignified life and achieve their personal aspirations,” she said..

She, however, said it was truly commendable to see organisations like HBBA investing significant time and resources in empowering incarcerated individuals, fostering their economic and social growth.

“It is important that we recognise that incarcerated persons remain citizens of this country who require support and encouragement in the pursuit of a life of dignity and the quest to attain their personal goals.

“On our part, we are also working towards enhancing access to justice for citizens navigating the criminal justice system, especially young people.

“I am pleased and proud to say that HBBA is one of the leading organisations providing informed advice and actionable guidance to my office on this matter,” she said.

Ms Abiola acknowledged and commended Oluwafunke Adeoye, founder of HBBA, for harnessing her personal experience to establish a robust organisation that empowered incarcerated individuals nationwide.

“Adeoye’s remarkable journey embodies resilience and passion, qualities that are essential for building a brighter Nigeria.

“I will also like to specially recognise the selfless officers of the NCoS, who do all they can to support incarcerated persons in their care, and serve this country diligently and meritoriously.

“I urge you to encourage all incarcerated persons in this facility to take advantage of this opportunity and learn valuable skills that will benefit them now, and in future.

“Please, also let them know that this is not the end of their journey, as they still have their whole lives ahead of them. Please encourage them to embrace this opportunity and keep hope alive for a glorious and fulfilling future,” Ms Abiola said.

Earlier, the founder of the organisation, Ms Adeoye said that HBBA was a non-governmental organisation that has been working across issues of human rights and criminals justice reforms within the past six years.

Mr Adeoye said that the first three years of the organisation’s work was solely on providing access to legal representation to indigent pre- trials and Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATIs).

“As we continue to provide this legal services to them across the country, we realise that many of the people who find themselves incarcerated are people from indigent background and these are people who are from socio economically disadvantage background.

“Even though we provide support for who are wrongly incarcerated and those who are incarcerated, because they have indeed committed a crime, we thought and we saw that without providing access to reformation activities, they will come out of prisons and likely re-offend.

“So, that was why we decided that we needed to support the Nigerian government on rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration and that was what led to the initiation of the “Inside Out Hub” .

“We provide support for incarcerated or justice impacted individual inside the correctional facilities and when they come outside, that’s why it’s called “Inside out Hub,”she said.

Ms Adeoye revealed that HBBA has implemented various initiatives and currently operated in 12 correctional facilities across Nigeria, providing legal assistance to inmates.

“In addition, this facility marks the second reformation project and the second launch of its kind this year, demonstrating the organisation’s expanding impact,” she said.

The HBBA donated two industrial sewing machines and five manual sewing machines to the Dukpa Correctional centre and also wired the entire room and provided a very big storage wardrobe.

The organisation also provided clothings and other sewing materials to aid the work of the inmates for the next six years.

(NAN)