The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has announced plans to commence monthly psychiatric evaluations for all prison inmates across the country beginning in November 2025.
The Vice President I of the association, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Sylvester Nwakuche.
The visit also featured the donation of reusable sanitary pads to all female inmates nationwide, a gesture supported by Diatom Impact/Platform Capital, a Nigerian company that manufactures the sanitary products.
Olowojebutu said the psychiatric evaluation initiative would ensure that every inmate had access to essential mental health care, while the sanitary pad donation aimed to promote the dignity and wellbeing of women in custody.
“Today marks a great day for me personally. In July, we met with the investigative panel and heard touching revelations about the condition of inmates, especially the hygiene of women. I made a vow that day that the NMA would provide sanitary pads to support them,” he said.
He noted that the association’s findings revealed the need for consistent psychological support and psychiatric assessment among inmates to aid rehabilitation.
“With our continued collaboration with the NCoS, we are confident that the lives of inmates, both male and female, will improve. Together with our partners at Diatom Impact/Platform Capital, we have agreed to continue being our brothers’ keepers,” Olowojebutu added.
In his remarks, the Controller-General of the NCoS, Mr Nwakuche, commended the NMA for its commitment to improving inmate welfare and for sustaining its partnership with the Service.
He also lauded Diatom Impact/Platform Capital for its contribution to correctional reforms, including the establishment of an incubation centre at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, where inmates are receiving digital skills training and certification in Cisco programmes.
“Our inmates are not the dregs of society; they come from all walks of life and deserve opportunities for rehabilitation. We must continue to involve NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians in making life better and more meaningful for them,” he said.
Dr Akintoye Akindele, Chairman of Diatom Impact/Platform Capital, described support for inmates as a moral obligation, stressing that many prisoners found themselves in such circumstances due to factors beyond their control.
“Everybody deserves dignity, hope, and a chance at life. It’s an honour to partner with the NMA because they are the real heroes doing the work of nation-building. We must focus on positive stories and support good initiatives that uplift our society,” he said.
Akindele further emphasised that prisoners should not be treated as outcasts but as citizens deserving of respect and rehabilitation.
“Prisoners are human beings first,” he said. “They are in correctional facilities to learn and become better. We must build a country that treats every life with dignity.”
