Sheikh Al-Imam Iskeel Muh. Awwal a.k.a Sugar
Sixteen inmates of Nigerian Correctional Service, Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Ogun State on Saturday graduated after a six -month Qur’anic studies sponsored by the Wakeelul Musleem Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Al-Imam Iskeel Muh. Awwal popularly known as Alhaji Sugar, in collaboration with the League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State.
According to the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr Bamidele Oshin, the graduates were taught Qur’anic studies by Islamic scholars at the study centre in the facility.
He noted that this was the first time Qur’anic studies were imparted to inmates at the custodial centre, but there had been inmates who had graduated in Christian Theology in April this year.
He pointed out that as part of the core mandates of the Nigerian Correctional Service which are reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration, it could be carried out in diverse ways, and this religious integration was one of them.
He said, “As we are all aware the Nigerian Correctional Service primary aims and goals are reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
“We reform in diverse ways. The first one has to be religious integration into the system of the inmates. The moment their spiritual being is regenerated, there will be behaviour modification, and you expect that some of the truancy, and violence attitude which they earlier exhibited before getting here, would give way to good behaviour having undergone this kind of religious reintegration, and this would prepare them for further reformation activities.”
Mr Oshin called on other religious bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations, communities and other well meaning Nigerians to partner NCS in initiating such laudable programmes, while advising the youths to shun all of vices as they only lead to regrets in the long run.
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Speaking on the programme, Sheikh Al-Imam Iskeel Muh. Awwal, commended the Federal and the state governments for allowing the Qur’anic studies to be imparted on the graduands.
He pleaded with the government to consider this set of inmates who had undergone such transformation to be granted amnesty, as he argued that “they will be useful to the nation because they now know what is right and what is wrong.”
On his own part, the Assistant Superintendent of Corrections at Ibara Custodial Centre, who is also the Social Welfare/Education Desk Officer, Awesu Abdulhakeem said there are three types of educational programmes in the correctional study centre.
The three, he said are Academic, Vocational and Religious educational programmes
He said no fewer than 76 inmates are currently undergoing different programmes at the National Open University Custodial Centre, and there are others pursuing National Certificate of Education.
He said some others are being prepared for NECO and other examinations, while there are vocational skills like tailoring, hairdressing, carpentry while some are even singing etc.
Mr Awesu said on 28th April 2022, 75 Christian inmates graduated in Theology and then “we have the latest which are 16 inmates who have acquired knowledge on how to read the Holy Qur’an in Arabic and that is the essence of our gathering today.”
Two of the graduands who spoke with journalists, Jimoh and Hussein, appreciated the sponsors of the programme and the authorities of the NCS, especially the Ibara Custodial Centre for the opportunity given them aimed at reforming their lives.
