An NGO, the Prison Fellowship Nigeria, has inaugurated a pilot education programme to award scholarships to 600 out-of-school children in the country.
Pastor Peter Okere, the Chairman, Niger State chapter of the group made the disclosure at a press conference in Suleja on Tuesday.
He said that the initiative was part of a Promise Path programme being powered the Prison Fellowship International (PFI).
”The initiative is designed for the most vulnerable and marginalized children between the age of four and 18 years.
”It is to provide education, safety, health, social and emotional resilience support for the children,” he said.
Okere said that the programme was to ensure inclusive quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The chairman said that the programme would trigger social connection through supportive relationships with local volunteers and interaction with peers.
”It will improve the spiritual and personal development of the children through mentoring, discipleship, and connection with the local church community.
”Beneficiaries of the Promise Path programme must be children of people who are in prison either sentenced or awaiting trial.
”It will have wide-ranging impact in the lives of children and their parents,” he said.
Okere disclosed that the pilot programme would kick off in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger States.
In his remark, Mr. Ali Ali, the Assistant Comptroller, Suleja Medium Correctional Centre, thanked the body for the initiative.
He said that Prison Fellowship, Nigeria had been quite proactive in promoting the welfare of inmates and their families around the countries. (NAN)
