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FG To Collaborate With Dream Again Foundation On Inmate’s Transformation

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2023

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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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

12 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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