Hope Behind Bars Africa has launched the Farming Justice Project at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja to promote inmate rehabilitation and address food insecurity within correctional facilities. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service and funded by the European Union through International IDEA under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
At the official launch on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), Funke Adeoye, said the project represents a practical response to Nigeria’s evolving correctional system. She explained that the change from “prison” to “correctional service” must go beyond words to reflect genuine rehabilitation and empowerment for inmates.
“With the change in nomenclature from ‘prison’ to ‘correctional service,’ there is a need to ensure that our custodial centres reflect that change through genuine rehabilitation and empowerment,” Adeoye stated.
She said the Farming Justice Project combines agriculture with restorative justice principles, allowing inmates to acquire life skills and contribute meaningfully to society both during and after their time in custody. The project aims to empower inmates through agricultural training and hands-on food production.
According to her, more than 80 inmates are currently being trained in modern agricultural techniques for okra, watermelon, and tomato cultivation. “Some of our harvested okra has already been consumed by inmates, showing real progress in tackling food shortages in custodial centres,” she added.
The project currently operates at the Kuje Custodial Centre and the Dukpa Farm Centre in Abuja. Adeoye said there are plans to expand the model to other correctional facilities across Nigeria, including Lagos, where Hope Behind Bars Africa has previously worked with female inmates on similar agricultural programmes.
“Our goal is to reduce recidivism by equipping inmates with viable means of livelihood after serving their sentences,” she said. “We are calling on partners and well-meaning Nigerians to support the NCoS in ensuring effective rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.”
Adeoye commended the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, for his support and for encouraging public-private partnerships focused on reforming correctional practices.
She also highlighted the importance of preparing inmates for life after incarceration. “Out of over 80,000 inmates nationwide, only about 3,600 are on death row. This means a large number will eventually return to our communities. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure they come out better prepared for productive living,” she noted.
In his welcome remarks, the Controller of Corrections for the FCT Command, Christopher Jen, praised the initiative as a significant step towards building a more peaceful and secure Nigeria.
“My desire is to see a better Nigeria tomorrow where everyone will live without fear or anxiety. The enthusiasm and willingness of inmates to learn skills today give me confidence that such a future is possible,” Jen said.
He described the Kuje Custodial Centre as a “centre of excellence” in vocational training, pointing out that inmates are already engaged in barbing, embroidery, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, shoemaking, soap making, and fishery. These activities, he said, are helping inmates to develop skills that can sustain them after their release.
Delivering a goodwill message, Joseph Odeh, a representative of International IDEA, emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving justice reform.
“Justice reform is not the responsibility of one institution alone. It is a shared mission that requires the active participation of all sectors of society. Let this day mark the beginning of a new chapter in our justice system—one that prioritises human development, community reintegration, and sustainable transformation,” Odeh stated.
The event featured a guided tour of the Kuje Custodial Centre, the official unveiling of the Farming Justice Project, and visits to skill acquisition centres where inmates are being trained in various trades. The programme highlights how agriculture, skills development, and rehabilitation can work together to support justice reform and national food security.