Joel Ajayi

The   Honourable Minister of  State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele  Olawande has expressed the readiness of his Ministry to collaborate with Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation to meaningfully impact  the lives of young inmates in the  Correctional Centres in Nigeria.

Mr. Olawande made this known during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Foundation in his office at Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

The Minister,  who described the foundation initiator as a gift to  humanity, stated that most youths lack engagement. He therefore emphasized the need for the government and youth to work together to lead the youths aright. 

While referring to the attitude of people to inmates in the correctional centres, Olawande said that everyone has a destiny, and no individual can be described as entirely bad.  

*”Every life is a storyline. Stories can be realities when God is in charge. Unlock your mind and  live your dream. If you do that, you won’t be hindered by what people say or do to you.”* He added.

The Minister, reminiscing about his life, noted that the goals of the foundation are similar to his theme in life, which is to put the people first. *”My dreams might be outside the prison, but I am also ready to take the dream to the prison if need be.”* He added.

Speaking further,  Mr. Olawande commended the zeal,  efforts, and volume of achievements by the Foundation and reassured  them of  his readiness  to collaborate with them. 

Earlier, the team lead and founder of the  organisation Mr. Bashiru Adamu explained that the foundation originated from his  community development service during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Otukpo, Benue State.

He further said that the aim of the foundation is to equip young inmates with skills that will contribute to their productivity and success upon reintegration into society.

Mr. Adamu announced that the  foundation has expanded its reach to six prison locations across Nigeria, including Lagos  Abuja and  Kaduna. He disclosed that his organisation had set up libraries and classrooms to empower youth in correctional centres  who, according to him, constitute approximately 95% of the incarcerated population nationwide.

Recounting the  foundation’s success stories, Mr. Bashiru cited the  case of an inmate who sat for his SSCE and had his first  degree while in  the correctional centre. He disclosed that the inmate who is currently  undergoing his masters degree programme has written a book with six hundred copies already printed and scheduled to be  launched by the foundation next year.

Also speaking,  a beneficiary of the foundation and former inmate, Mr. Akpoo Thomas Ogah shared his transformative journey, crediting Mr. Bashir and the Dream Again Foundation for changing his life through skill acquisition. 

He informed the Minister that after he regained his freedom, he successfully launched his business and even  participated in the prestigious National Expo 2020, where he represented Benue State and earned recognition from the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

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