Lagos, Nigeria – October 16, 2024

Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR) is thrilled to announce a new Juvenile Education Program designed to provide comprehensive learning opportunities for children in juvenile detention facilities in Lagos state. This pioneering initiative, which serves as an extension of our successful Educational Program currently offered in adult correctional facilities, seeks to address the unique educational needs of young individuals, fostering personal development, academic success, and social integration. The Juvenile Education Program will be piloted in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and we are elated that the Lagos State Government has embraced this initiative and is fully committed to making it a reality.

The launch of this program comes at a crucial time, as the Nigerian juvenile justice system faces growing pressures. According to recent reports, over 60% of juveniles in detention facilities have not completed basic education, contributing to a cycle of poverty and offending that is hard to escape.

As emphasized by the Executive Director of CELSIR, Joke Aladesanmi, “Education gives hope and our goal for this project is to ensure that education is available, accessible, and consistent for children in juvenile centres, thereby breaking the cycle of recidivism.”

Key features of the program include:

• Educational Programs whereby we leverage technology to provide post secondary education
• Tailored Curriculum: Subjects designed to meet the unique needs of justice-impacted children.

The inaugural session of the juvenile education program held on Wednesday, the 16th of October 2024.