In a bid to improve the prison services and welfare of its inmates across Nigeria, Nigerian Prison Services was renamed the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) through an Act of Parliament that was enacted in 2019. Thus, in partnership with Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (a Non-governmental Organization) which has a long standing Memorandum of Understanding with NCS; Astro-PC is targeted at 450 inmates with less than two years to complete their jail terms. Our goal is to inspire, educate and prepare inmates for better life after incarceration; by impacting various astronomy/basic science related skills that can engender human capacity development and peaceful co-existence. Explicitly, our project is aimed at teaching the inmates some basic skills (astro-tourism, snail farming and fish farming) that can help them earn a responsible living. This is in addition to showing them love by offering free medical, legal and psychological services through our team of experts. Using the astronomy concept of Pale-Blue-Dot and other motivational astro-expositions (Solar System, Dark Sky Conservation) as strategic tool, we intend to re-orientate the inmates on the need to embrace responsible lifestyle. Beyond helping inmates to shun crime and live above poverty thereby engendering seamless re-integration into the larger society; our project is also expected to create a team of astronomy enthusiasts amongst inmates who are about to complete their jail terms. Interestingly, we executed a similar project in 2021 and hope to build on the successes recorded earlier (https://capiong.org/astro-prison-project/). It is our belief that the consistency of this project over time will help us to build a financially self-sustaining program that could be scaled-up beyond the shores of Nigeria. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness in knowledge transfer, Astro-PC will adopt: English, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba as major languages of communication since Nigeria is a multi-ethnic society.
Activities
A total of 375 inmates participated in the astro-prison consolidation project which took place at 3 correctional centres in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. The three correctional centres are located in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi. Because our Project Team came from outside Anambra State, the programmes organized for the inmates took place on different dates at the selected correctional centres as follow:
i.) Opening Ceremony (Introduction of the project aim and its sponsors) ii) Medical Consultations/outreach iii) Legal Consultations/outreach iv) Astro-tourism: Exploring the Universe’ Wonders (45 Minutes) v) Light Pollutions and Dark Sky Conservation (45 Minutes) vi) The Pale-Blue Dot (30min + 15min interaction) vii) The Solar System (30min + 15min interaction) viii) Refreshment ix) Snail Farming Practical Workshop (1Hr 30minutes) x) Bee-keeping Workshop (Oral presentation: 1hour) xi) Final Address, feedback collection and Monitoring
Outcomes
The outcome of Astro-prison consolidation in Nigeria showed that the project had succeeded in: a.) Raising the level of awareness on astronomy education at the basic level in selected Nigerian Correctional Centres, taking into account their different levels of educational background. This is evident in the number of post-programme invitations we have so far received for similar programme to be executed in two (2) other correctional centres from Asaba in a neighbouring State of Delta. b.) Helping Nigerian Government to achieve appropriate reform for correctional centre inmates prior to their re-integration into the larger society using the concept of Pale-blue-dot. This is evident in the post programme response of most of the participants who agreed not to get involved in any crime that will bring them back to jail. Thus, the programme has served as a mediator between the inmates and the society at large. c.) Improved the well-being of the inmates that are still in jail. . d.) Boosted the morale of all inmates and prepared them for a more responsible life after their incarceration through strategic skill transfer/development. e.) Ensured that the astro-prison project is scaled-up to the national level.
