THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND UTILISATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR REFORMATION OF INMATES IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The study ascertains the academic programmes and vocational training programmes in the
custodial centres for reformation of the inmates of Nigerian Correctional Service. The study was
guided by the assumptions of the Human Capital Theory developed by Gary Becker in 1964. The
study adopted an exploratory survey research design. The Nigerian Correctional Service, Akwa
Ibom State Command comprises the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Uyo, the Medium
Security Custodial Centre, Ikot Ekpene, the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Eket and the
Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikot Abasi. The population comprises convicted inmates and
personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom State Command. A total of 49
respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments for collection
of data were the Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interviews. The qualitative data
were analysed using thematic analysis method while the socio-demographic data were presented
using frequency tables and simple percentages. The findings showed that academic and
vocational training programmes were needed by inmates across the custodial centres but they
were constrained by lack of facilities, equipment and lack of resource persons. The study
recommended among others that the management of correctional centres should give adequate
attention to implementing academic and vocational training programmes for inmates so that the
rate of recidivism could be reduced.