The Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has emphasized the role of remand homes in rehabilitating children and equipping them with vocational skills to aid self-reliance. Mrs. Rachel Twaki, Director of Social Welfare Services in the ministry, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
According to Twaki, the remand homes were established to cater to children who are either beyond parental control or have committed minor offences. She noted that beyond character reformation, the homes provide opportunities for skill acquisition to ensure the children reintegrate into society as responsible individuals.
She explained that the impact of the homes is visible in the reformed character of children after their stay. Twaki further revealed that the facilities expose children to different trades, such as tailoring, bag making, beadwork, hand fan production, and liquid soap making. “At the remand homes here in Niger, aside from molding the children to be better versions of themselves, we also train them in tailoring, school bags, travel bags, and souvenir bag making,” she said.
She also disclosed that the Chanchaga Local Government provided three teachers to handle basic subjects, including English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Agriculture, and Civic Education for children in the Minna remand home. However, Twaki pointed out that the facilities are hampered by inadequate equipment and require upgrades to create a more conducive environment. She appealed to well-meaning individuals and organizations to support the homes with donations, stressing that the children need care and encouragement, not condemnation.
In a related development, the Nasarawa State Government announced that it is collaborating with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to set up a juvenile correctional home. Mr. Clement Audu, Director of Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, explained that the state had recently approved the conversion of a facility in Shabu, Lafia, into a correctional home for children.
Audu noted that the initiative, backed by Governor Abdullahi Sule, would provide rehabilitation, education, and vocational training for children and adolescents in conflict with the law. Since the law does not permit the state to operate such a facility directly, the property was handed over to NCoS, while the government pledged logistics support to ensure smooth operations.
He explained that the home would help children overcome behavioural challenges, cultivate positive habits, and become productive members of society. In addition to academic and vocational training, the facility will provide counseling and therapy to address emotional and behavioural needs, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children while also protecting the community.
Audu stressed that the welfare of children, women, and other vulnerable groups has been a key priority of the present administration since 2019. Meanwhile, a Lafia resident, Saidu Mohammed, urged the government to fast-track the project to prevent the harmful practice of mixing juvenile offenders with adults. He said the correctional home would create opportunities for children to acquire education and life skills, enabling them to avoid crime in the future.
According to him, the ultimate goal of such facilities is to reform children and adolescents into law-abiding, responsible citizens who are equipped with the skills and support necessary to lead productive lives.