Dear Reader, Happy New Month!
What a ride August was! Every story, every breakthrough, every moment reminded us why we wake up each day believing in second chances. Now that September is here and we have officially entered the -ember season, we are feeling that special kind of energy that comes with the year’s final stretch. Thanks for being right here with us through it all.
Here is a recap what we were up to in August:
Milestones
Legislative Advocacy: A Seat at the Table
You know how we always say change starts with the right policies? Well, we got our chance to influence some real change at the Lagos State Assembly. The Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions & LASIEC invited us to their public hearing on the Lagos State Correctional Service Bill, and we showed up ready to speak for our community.
We spoke about why we need more restorative approaches to justice, the importance of treating people behind bars with dignity, and all those systemic issues that keep people from successfully reintegrating. It felt good to know that the voices of justice-impacted individuals were being heard where decisions get made
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Recognition from Nigerian Correctional Service
We are still smiling about this one! We are honored to have received the Award for Outstanding Contribution from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Zone A, (Lagos and Ogun state) at the Graduation and Exhibition Ceremony 2025 themed “Reformed for Impact”.
We were also excited seeing all the skill acquisition programme graduates celebrating their achievements, and watching the women from the correctional centre proudly show off the beautiful products they made for our Project Empower to Rebuild store.
This recognition strengthens our resolve to keep driving transformation through technology, empowerment, and hope. We believe that every life carries potential, and with the right support, new stories of dignity and purpose can be written.
The Codeable 4.0 Closeout
Honestly, we weren’t prepared for how emotional this would be. We wrapped up Codeable 4.0 with both in-prison and out-of-prison closeouts, celebrating 17 incredible beneficiaries 13 in-prison and 4 reingrating individuals. For 14 weeks, our beneficiaries were trained in software engineering, project management, product design, and quality assurance.
During the close-out ceremony, we heard testimonies of how the program gave them reasons to dream again. This is what true impact looks like, people behind bars, rising above limitations and creating lasting change.
A huge thank you to SeamlessHR for walking this journey with us.
Noteworthy Mentions
Strengthening Reentry Pathways: The Safe House Connection
We were represented by our Executive Director, Joke Aladesanmi at a three-days SAFE House Training in Los Angeles with A New Way of Life.
As pioneers of Nigeria’s first transitional home for justice-impacted women, The CELSIR Ruby House, this was an opportunity to deepen collaborations, reconnect with Susan Burton, and refine our vision for safe reentry pathways for women.
Projects and Activities
HIV Awareness and Screening at Agodi, Ibadan
What a day it was at the Medium Security Custodial Facility, Agodi, Ibadan! We teamed up with The Safe House Network and A New Way of Life for a one-day HIV awareness and screening campaign.
We visited both male and female facilities, providing education on HIV dangers, prevention strategies, and the importance of knowing your status. Voluntary testing was also available. The eagerness to learn was inspiring! Even correctional officers got involved, and we had a representative from Oyo State Ministry of Health join us.
Healthcare isn’t a privilege, it’s a right, even behind prison walls. Knowledge empowers, and health is key to rehabilitation. Interested organizations can also partner with us here.
Second Chances Restored: The Story of Mr. Mahfuz
Sometimes our work is about the big picture, and sometimes it’s about one person whose life we can change. Mr. Mahfuz’s story is one of those that reminds us why individual cases matter so much.
He got arrested for having a stolen phone which he didn’t know was stolen when he bought it and repaired it for himself. Months later, the original owner tracked the phone and Mr. Mahfuz got arrested. He got sentenced to six months or a ₦50,000 fine, and with no family support (he’d lost his mother and his father lives in Abuja), he couldn’t pay.
That’s where we came in, along with our amazing partner SeamlessHR. After one month in custody, Mr. Mahfuz gained his freedom. It’s cases like this that show how a little support at the right time can completely change someone’s trajectory.
Ongoing Campaigns
Book Drive
We are collecting 5,000 new or gently used books to support incarcerated individuals who are eager to learn, grow, and heal through reading. We are also looking for volunteers in different cities to help as book collectors and drop-off coordinators.
Want to donate or volunteer? contact us at info@celsir.org or call us on 09169064900, 08136385933.
GCE Registration Commences
It’s that time of year again!!! Our students behind bars are getting ready to sit for the General Certificate Examination (GCE), and they need your support.
For just ₦30,000, you can sponsor an incarcerated learner to register for the exam, giving them a real chance to rewrite their story through education
Thank you for walking with us
August showed us again that every single life carries incredible potential. When we provide the right support, transformation isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.
Thank you for believing in second chances.
Thank you for standing with us.
And thank you for being part of a community that is building dignity, opportunity, and hope.
We have so much more to do, and we can’t wait to take the next step forward with you by our side. Wishing you a wonderful and fulfilling month ahead.
With warmth,
The CELSIR Team.
Support The Work We Do
You can send your support by donating to our cause via the account details below:
Account Name: Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation
Bank: Polaris Bank
Account Number: 1771895528
