By Dipo Olowookere
About 8,000 inmates across the correctional centres in the country are expected to be trained by a group known as the Compassion Connectors Nigeria.
The organisation in a statement disclosed that the beneficiaries would undergo the training through a programme known as Compassion Champions.
This will be launched on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 11 am at the Umuahia Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service on 35, Mbaise Rd, Mission Hill, Abia State.
This initiative aims to equip the inmates with practical and social-emotional skills to help them lead a crime-free and prosperous life outside of prison.
According to the organisation, the scheme was designed to equip prisoners with technical skills like carpentry, digital design, and plumbing.
It was also created to help them to cultivate their compassion for themselves and others. This emotional toolkit can help individuals address some of the impulses and thought processes that contributed to their original offence as well as help them better communicate with and relate to others.
According to research, one of the biggest predictors of recidivism by released prisoners is a lack of employable skills combined with difficulties integrating back into society. The latter issue is often compounded by a sense of alienation felt by the prisoners.
The group said the Compassion Champions intends to address these deficits and give the inmates another start to life after servicing their terms.
Compassion Connectors Nigeria was established to build resilient, caring, and compassionate communities.
It was convened by a reputable community organiser from Abia State, Mr Uwalaka Uchechukwu, and it is part of the Global Compassion Coalition, an international movement of compassion scientists, teachers, practitioners, and activists working to spread and embed compassion across society.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Modupe Gbadeyanka