In a significant move to restore hope and provide practical support, the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) has launched its comprehensive Reform360 Programme at the female Custodial Facility in Kirikiri, Lagos State. This initiative, executed in partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR), is generously supported by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Co. Ltd. (SEEPCO).
A Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation and Hope
The programme is strategically designed to help incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives. It focuses on three core areas: restoring hope, reconnecting with self, and preparing for successful reintegration into society. Reform360 delivers holistic empowerment through a multi-faceted curriculum that includes mental health first-aid training, legal literacy concerning gender-based violence, enterprise development, vocational skills acquisition, and sustainable entrepreneurship training.
Through intensive mental health sessions, participants have gained vital competencies in emotional regulation, anxiety management, and building adversity intelligence. Many women reported immediate positive changes. One participant shared, "I used to sleep three, four hours in a day, now I sleep better. I practise breathing exercises and I do not panic about hearing dates or my family. The anger management session healed me. I learnt to stop reacting to every little thing."
From Passive Beneficiaries to Active Contributors
The entrepreneurship component marked a definitive turning point for the 200 women involved. They transitioned from being passive beneficiaries to planning as active future contributors. Key learning areas included:
- Bookkeeping and business management
- Customer relations and e-commerce strategies
- Launching low-cost start-ups
Concurrently, many are acquiring hands-on vocational skills in fields such as tailoring, creating plant-based food wraps, Adire textile production, and bakery. This practical knowledge is shifting mindsets. "I used to think you need a lot of money to start a business. Now I know I can begin with little capital," one woman explained. Another added, "When I first got here, I felt lost. Now I feel like a light. I do self-care with what is available and I plan a small business for when I leave."
Building a Sustainable Future Beyond Bars
The programme's impact extends to formal education and peer support. Notably, through its ASPIRE scholarship initiative, VCDF has funded the General Certificate Examination for 200 participants in custodial centres across Nigeria. The group counselling sessions have been instrumental in reducing stigma and encouraging the women to seek help.
Beatrice Onyemachi, Deputy Controller of Corrections, commended the initiative, stating, "The women showed energy and focus. They are learning to plan for a fulfilling life... This is all thanks to VCDF and CELSIR’s approach." A cell elder captured the transformative essence, saying, "Indeed, healing begins with mental health because I now see a clear path. I can help a fellow woman who is struggling and I can run a small trade when I go home and sustain myself."
This initiative aligns with broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), opening doors to reinvention and reintegration. SEEPCO reaffirms its commitment to supporting such Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavours. VCDF pledges to leverage this partnership continuously to ensure dignified support for people in challenging situations, aiming for the best socio-economic outcomes in Nigeria.
