The Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, Sunday Adekunmbi, has charged inmates to reject crime as a response to hardship, insisting that poverty should never justify criminal behaviour.
Adekunmbi made the remark during a debate programme held at the facility, organised by the Jelitop Skills and Empowerment Programme in collaboration with the Inmates Educational Unit of the centre.
Drawing inspiration from the life of late business mogul and politician, MKO Abiola, he noted that difficult beginnings do not define one’s future, urging inmates to embrace discipline, self-improvement, and lawful living.
“If individuals like MKO Abiola could rise from humble beginnings to national prominence, then poverty cannot be an excuse for engaging in crime,” he said.
Adekunmbi further commended the initiative, describing debate platforms as powerful tools for mental reorientation and rehabilitation within correctional facilities.
Also speaking, one of the organisers, Abosede Olaniyan, said the programme was designed to inspire hope among inmates and reinforce the belief that their current circumstances do not determine their future.
She explained that the maiden edition of the debate aimed to encourage participants to see beyond their present challenges and work towards a better life after incarceration.
The debate, themed “Poverty is Not an Excuse for Crime,” highlighted the values of hard work, diligence, and integrity, while reinforcing the idea that individuals remain responsible for their choices regardless of their circumstances.
