WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PRISON ?

A few years ago, I listened to a message by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he spoke about the high likelihood of ex-convicts returning to prison. This, he said, was largely due to the difficulty they face reintegrating into society.

One major challenge is public acceptance. Many employers don’t want individuals with criminal records associated with their brand. Others fear that the ex-convict might relapse into old behaviours, potentially causing harm or bringing trouble to their organisation.

While these concerns are understandable, Bishop Jakes advocated for meaningful reform during incarceration. He suggested that churches, manufacturers, and other businesses should create training programmes for inmates—equipping them with skills that will help them survive once they are released. The goal? To reduce the temptation to return to crime.

A few days ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across a photo with a caption that caught my attention: President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso was reportedly transforming prisoners into farmers. The more committed an inmate was to farming, the more likely they were to have their sentence reduced.

Whether the story is accurate or not, I felt a deep sense of joy reading it. It reminded me again why leadership is not only about style or form—it’s about impact. And in that moment, I had even more respect for this military leader, despite criticisms of his undemocratic approach to leadership.

Now, I ask: for a country like Nigeria—one that practises democracy—what plans do we have for our inmates in these congested prisons?

Is there any data showing how ex-convicts fare after serving their time?

Are there structured efforts to support their reintegration into society and keep them from returning to crime?

Maybe someone in government circles can shed light on this.

From President Traoré, we see a model—simple, practical, and effective. Imagine what it could do if, upon release, inmates had access to seed funding and ongoing support to build a life in agriculture or skilled trades.

May we continue to learn from examples of visionary leadership.

May Nigeria rise again.

May Africa live up to her true potential.

Shalom ✌🏾

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