Our Director

The Nigerian society is currently grappling with the problem of values, and character erosion leading to high crime rates. There are manifestations of character bankruptcy in all segments of the society. Incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings are pervasive and are all evidence of poor values. The consequential implication is that Lagos prisons are getting congested and overcrowded. There is also a high incidence of prisoners returning to the prisons after they have been released (recidivism).

It is evident that incarceration in prisons is not bringing about the desired attitudinal changes in the prison inmates. There is therefore the need for training to inculcate moral and ethical values in the prison inmates. There is also the need to provide the inmates with vocational skills such as tailoring, bead making, soap making etc that will help them to sustain themselves when they are released, making reintegration into the society easier for them and thereby reducing the rate of going back to crime and back into prison.

Reducing crime rate will make for safer and more secured society. It will reduce the rate of their involvement in terrorist activities. Joy Bringers was set up 2011 as an intervention program to collaborate and work with the Nigerian Prison Service­.

The specific goal of the training project is to help prison inmates acquire moral and ethical values and practical skills that can assist them function effectively in the society when they are released. Through values acquired, the prison inmates will shun violence, resolve life conflicts, adopt positive lifestyles,and have attitudinal changes towards crime.

It will also reduce their rate of involvement in terrorist activities as they will not be easily targeted and recruited for violent activities. By transforming the lives of these inmates and empowering them with skills, the overall goal is to break the cycle of crimes. The ultimate goal is to prepare and facilitate the reintegration of these inmates into society. Over 80% of the prison inmates in Lagos prisons are young and are awaiting trial.

To date over 5000 prison inmates have benefited from the Joy Bringers Character personality re-characterization program. The program has been largely funded by the organization with little or no support from the public. The need for collaboration cannot be overemphasize.

Collaboration will help broaden the scope of the program. It will ensure more inmates benefit from the program. It will strengthen our effort in preparing inmates for release and reintegration into the society. It will also help to reduce the high incidence of re-incarceration.

In collaborating with Joy Bringers, organizations will be contributing to the Federal Government prison reform agenda. The collaboration will be promoted through the social media and among the beneficiaries of our training program,those within and outside the prisons with a view to encouraging them to patronize the bank. Our study and graduation materials will be branded using the color and logo to advertise any organization that cares and is investing in promoting the welfare of prisoners.

Finally, investing in the inmates and preparing them for release and reintegration into the society will make for a safer and more secured operating environment as these inmates when released will be subscribing to more positive life-styles based on values/skills acquired. It may be necessary to note that over 80% of the prison inmates in Lagos are young people and investing in them is investing in the future.