JA'AFARU AHMED CG NPS ....... THE ERA OF A NEW DAWN IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

To many, the positive and transformational programmes including landmark achievements presently being executed in the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS under Ja’afaru Ahmed as Controller General with over 90% success rate has become the topic of discussion amongst many personnel of the NPS including outsiders who are keen observers of the ongoing turnaround of the affairs of the Service.

With Ja’afaru Ahmed as CGNPS, many have commended his exceptional leadership qualities which he brought to bear since his assumption into office, bringing the establishment into reckoning especially as it has brought about, a boost in the morale and welfare of the
personnel.

And, in following the exemplary leadership qualities of his boss, Commandant of the Prison Staff College, Kaduna state is hailed as a round peg in a round hole whose achievements dot the state but, in his usual humble and quiet manner in doing things, ACG Kehinde A. Fadipe allows his successes which increases every day speak for him.

The Prison Staff College, Kaduna can best be described as an international training institution with participants from neighbouring sub-West African region that has also churned out some of the best
hands in the Nigeria Prison Service but, in recent times, under the astute leadership of ACG K.A. Fadipe, the infrastructural developments have witnessed a massive leap. This is evidential in the upgrade,
renovation of the structures bringing a level of serenity to the institution, never before seen.

In the area of its mandate, which is training of personnel of the Service, PSCK has achieved quite an appreciable lot of successes under the leadership of Kehinde A. Fadipe; an astute, God fearing and
transparent leader. The growth in the courses offered for participants are attested to in the string of successful conclusion of the courses from 2017-2018 which the PSCK introduced thereby, making it (Nigerian
Prisons Service) one of the best amongst the paramilitary services in the country.

The successful major courses, which are five in number includes; 6th Advance Command Course (6th February-17th March, 2017), 25th ASP Basic Course (6th Feb. – 28th July, 2017), 12th DSP Development Course (21st August – 21st November, 2017), 26th ASP Basic Course (13th Feb. – 10th August, 2018) and lastly, the 14th CSP Development Course (3rd Sept. –
23rd Nov. 2018). 

These courses, according to some inside sources at
the PSCK have helped to develop many of the personnel and prepare them for tasks and challenges ahead.

Fadipe, in his usual humble way of ascribing glory to God and his superiors, colleagues and subordinates alike and not wanting to take credit for his achievements alone, attributed these strides to his
CGP, bosses and staff of the Prisons Staff College.

In his words; “We are prepared to deliver the mandate given to us”, ACG Kehinde A. Fadipe had assured.

“Training and retraining of staff of the service, is a priority to the service in order for them to meet up with the emerging challenges and global standards in prison administration”.

K. A. Fadipe Waving off

ACG Kehinde A. Fadipe, who has since taken a bow from office on 23rd November, 2018, as Commandant of the College, served meritoriously, bringing into the PSCK, tremendous inputs and quality leadership and
indeed, left his footprints on the sands of time in the history of the Prisons Staff College, Kaduna and also of the NPS.

For the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed, his administration which has been variously described as “the Dawn of a New Era In Correctional Services”, is focused on developmental reformation of staff welfare and the inmates while operating an open door policy at all times with all.

Of great note is the decision of the CG to ensure that, as part of staff developmental strategies, junior officers of the NPS would participate in Citizen and Leadership training which was, previously, exclusively reserved for senior officers only.

Another landmark achievement of the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed is the Award he received as the “Best Leader of Correctional Services”, globally.

This award has been described by many as a big plus to the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS and the nation.

It is very pertinent to state that, the NPS has made education of personnel a priority and this also includes inmates who are under detention across the country. Many of the inmates of the Nigerian prisons are undergoing studies and receiving lectures even while still under incarceration, with many having obtained degrees in various fields of endeavour.

Two of such inmates are currently undergoing their Doctorate Degrees programmes while still under detention. Over fifty are doing their Masters Degrees presently with several others pursuing their 1st
Degrees and, all of these are in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.

There are centres of learning in some of our facilities like the Maximum Security Prisons in places like Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Jos and some of the big facilities too. They have their centres inside the prisons, thereby, making learning very easy and accessible for the
inmates.