A case that no one should ever be written off as useless has just been proven at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre, where an inmate won N1 million at the maiden edition of the Chess in Prison Championship organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
A total of 42 inmates participated in the competition, competing across various categories.
Babatunde Ogundare, the Minister of Interior’s senior special adviser and representative at the event, said, “This is not just a correctional facility but a place to rebuild lives. Use the lessons from this game to reflect on your life and discover the hidden value within you.”
He further praised UNODC on the initiative and how this will provide a value of life to the inmates that they can achieve more while being locked up.
Additionally, he promised that the correctional facilities would be upgraded to meet standards. He said, “We are working towards replicating the standards of Kuje Correctional Centre across all custodial centres in the country.”
Chinedu Ogah, the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformation, said the cash prize will be given to the inmate when he finishes his jail sentence.
Guinness World Record holder and Chess in Slums Africa convener, Tunde Onakoya, also pledged N100,000 in cash prizes for the top three contestants.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
READ THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
