Adeshewa Oreoluwa

Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR), has launched the Reform360 Programme at the Lagos Female Custodial Facility, Kirikiri, providing mental health support, education, and vocational and entrepreneurship training to empower incarcerated women

The programme is supported by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Co. Ltd. (SEEPCO).

So far, VCDF has funded the General Certificate Examination for 200 participants in custodial centres across Nigeria through its ASPIRE scholarship initiative, supporting education and rehabilitation for inmates.

According to the foundation, these programmes are designed to restore hope, foster self-reconnection, and facilitate reintegration into society by equipping incarcerated individuals with practical skills for life beyond the custodial facility.

The Reform360 programme delivers holistic empowerment through mental health first-aid training, legal literacy on gender-based violence, enterprise development, vocational skills, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Through intensive mental health sessions, participants gained competencies in emotional regulation, anxiety management, and adversity intelligence, with many women reporting immediate relief from anxiety and isolation.

The foundation also revealed that the entrepreneurship training marked a turning point for 200 women, transforming them from passive beneficiaries to active contributors as they applied key lessons in bookkeeping, customer relations, e-commerce, low-cost start-ups, and business management.

Additionally, several participants are acquiring vocational skills such as tailoring, plant-based food wraps, Adire textiles, and bakery, equipping them with practical means to sustain themselves upon release.

One of the incarcerated women shared, “I used to sleep 3 to 4 hours. Now I sleep better. I practise breathing exercises and do not panic about hearing dates or my family. The anger management session healed me. I learnt to stop reacting to every little thing.”

Another one who participated in the sessions said, “I used to think you need a lot of money to start a business. Now I know I can begin with little capital.”

One more 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.”

A cell elder also shared, “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.”

The women are also encouraged to continue their formal education.

Notably, VCDF has funded the General Certificate Examination for 200 participants in custodial centres across Nigeria through the ASPIRE scholarship initiative.

Beatrice Onyemachi, Deputy Controller of Corrections, commended the efforts of VCDF and CELSIR, noting that the women showed remarkable energy and focus during the training sessions. She added, “They are learning to plan for a fulfilling life.

The group counselling and peer support sessions have reduced stigma and encouraged them to seek help.”

The initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, opening doors to reinvention, reconnection, and reintegration for the women.

Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Co. Ltd. (SEEPCO) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting such programmes through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The company stated that its VCDF will continue to leverage SEEPCO’s support to ensure that beneficiaries are treated with dignity and provided with opportunities for the best socio-economic outcomes in Nigeria.