A Non-governmental Organization, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), has organised a one day consultative forum and training workshop for government agencies and relevant stakeholders in Anambra state on effective implementation of Non-custodial Measures.
The consultative forum was attended by law enforcement agencies such as the Nigerian Police, Civil Defence, Department of State Security, Federal Road Safety Corp, OCHA brigade, Anambra Traffic Management Agency, Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA) and relevant stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice, Traditional institutions etc.
During the opening ceremony, the Controller of Corrections Anambra State, Nwakeze Emmanuel, expressed gratitude to PRAWA for their continuous support to the Correctional Service. He stated the readiness of his officers to supervise Non-custodial measures in the states. The representative of RoLAC in Anambra state, Mrs Josephine Onah, explained the rationale why European Union and British Council are supporting the effective implementation of Non-custodial measures in Nigeria. She explained that her organization is passionate about justice sector reforms and thanked law enforcement agencies that have been supportive of the various efforts to reform the system.
In his remark, the representative of the Eze Uzu 11 of Awka, Ozo Mike Onwuaso, expressed delight with the new Correctional Service Act which he said the traditional institution will support. The Deputy Director of PRAWA, Mrs. Ogechi Ogu Esq. gave an overview of the programme and highlighted some of the achievements recorded under the project. She identified capacity building as a key factor in the implementation of the measures and listed the number of training workshops PRAWA has carried out with the support of RoLAC.
There were two technical sessions at the workshop that centered of the legal framework for the implementation of Non-custodial Measures in Anambra state and the imperatives of partnership in the implementation of Non-custodial Measures. At the end of the consultative forum, participants pledged their support and commitment to the implementation of Non-custodial Measures and asked for synergy between relevant stakeholders and government agencies.
PRAWA will continue with the training of Non-custodial Correctional officers in Anambra which is slated to last for three days.
