History as Tantita Inaugurates Eight-classroom Block for Open Varsity Training of Inmates at Okere Prison

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, (TSSNL), has inaugurated a state-of-the-art eight-, classroom block for Open University training of inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Okere community in Warri South local government area of Delta State.

The facility designed for the training of inmates who passed their WAEC, and serving as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centre, is part of Tantita’s avowed commitment to human development and community-building.

Inaugurating the project, Managing Director of TSSNL, High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, said that the security firm has a moral duty to embarked on the project, not just as it’s corporate social responsibility.

“True security is not only about guarding pipelines or patrolling waters. It’s also about rebuilding lives, restoring dignity, and giving people — even inmates — the tools to become better versions of themselves”, he said

He reminded guests that in 2019, Nigerian prisons were renamed Correctional Centres to reflect a shift from punishment to reformation.

This project, he added, “is Tantita’s contribution to that vision”.

Pondi pointed to Tantita’s previous humanitarian efforts — including the renovation of the historic Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna — as evidence that the company’s philosophy goes beyond profit.

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“By equipping inmates with knowledge and skills, we are not just giving them a second chance but also contributing to the growth and security of our state,” he stated.

“May this centre serve as a beacon of hope, a centre of learning, and a symbol of second chances — not just for inmates, but for all of us,” he said, dedicating the project to “the forgotten, the imprisoned, and the hopeful.”

In his remarks, Delta State Governor Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukarin, described the centre as a “beacon of hope” and a clear example of what happens when government and the private sector collaborate for the common good.

In his address read at the occasion, Governor Oborevwori commended Tantita’s intervention which he said aligned with both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and his administration’s MORE Agenda.

“True justice is not complete without genuine reformation and restoration. This building is more than a structure. It is a lifeline for those seeking redemption through knowledge.”

“Education remains the most powerful tool for transformation. Within our correctional facilities, it is not merely an academic exercise but a lifeline. Too many of our inmates come here burdened by poverty, illiteracy and despair. With access to education and vocational training they can acquire the knowledge, skills and self-confidence to rebuild their lives upon release.

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“This eight-classroom block will provide the platform for literacy programmes, vocational training and academic pursuits, helping to replace cycles of recidivism with pathways of personal growth and responsible citizenship”.

Prof. Tonukari added that the classrooms will provide a conducive environment for inmates to pursue both academic and vocational training, in line with Governor Oborevwori’s policy of empowering citizens through learning.

He called on other private organizations to emulate Tantita’s example, noting that real societal transformation begins with education — especially for the most marginalized.

Comptroller General, Nigerian Correctional Services, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, in is speech, thanked Tantita for investing unprecedentedly in the rehabilitation of vulnerable Nigerians.

Nwakuche, who was represented by Assistant Comptroller of Prisons, Kingsley Njoku, said; “Let me begin by commending you for the courage, foresight, and determination you have demonstrated in siting this magnificent project here. It could have been built anywhere — but you chose to bring it inside a prison for the most forgotten among us.”

He described the building as a facility “completed only to Harvard and Cambridge standards,” affirming its potential to transform lives, reduce recidivism, and help inmates restart their educational journeys.

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According to the CG, the project aligns with ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes education as a critical tool for national security and social justice.

He said that some of the functions of the correctional service include implementing reformation, vocational skill training, reintegration programme among others, adding that the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 has fundamentally transformed the operations of our service to offer skills and education geared towards reformation and rehabilitation of our inmates.

“As you may be aware, some of the inmates here were brought in to the custodial centres due to lack of basic education.

“The Correctional Service has put in motion educational facilities in all the custodial centres across the Nation, from Primary. Secondary and University. through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

“It may interest you to know that some states like Rivers. Enugu. Lagos. Kuje (Abuja) etc. have produced students at first degree, master and Ph.D., so many more inmates are currently undergoing various programmes across the country.

“The commissioning of this block of classrooms in this custodial centre aligns with our objective and will further add to the number of custodial centres having National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre and also give opportunity to the growing number of inmates seeking education to pursue their career unhindered

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“I want to assure you that this block of classrooms will be effectively used for this singular purpose, and that in the next three to four years, you will hear the success story of our graduates”, he enthused.

Earlier, the Delta State Comptroller of Corrections, CC Raymond Nwaoku, enthused that the centre will serve not only inmates but also residents of the surrounding community.

He thanked Tantita for bridging the gap between incarceration and education, and appealed for computers to be added to support e-learning and ICT training. He also commended renowned comedian “Prophet” for facilitating the project.