By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (MMAWT) Legacy Initiative as part of its interventions in the Sokoto State Remand home, has embarked on the total renovation of the home including the dormitories, administration block and classrooms, kitchen, Female dormitories and a mosque.
The foundation has also created a new clinic, sports arena and a Vocational skills training center within the home to remedy the poor, difficult and deprived environment in the custodial institutions is such that many of the young offenders are transformed to hardened criminals. They often plot their escapes and later constitute themselves into greater burden and danger to the society.
There are no reliable statistics, but there is no doubt that many of the children in the remand homes across the country are from the poor in society; those in dire need of care and protection. Many of them lived on the street and engaged in any activities to scrape by before running afoul of the law. Unfortunately, the prevailing depressed economy in the country is no doubt accentuating the problem of juvenile crimes as many families are increasingly becoming unable to live up to the challenge of parenthood.
But we owe these children in corrective institutions care and protection. The poor living conditions in the remand homes are a violation of the Children’s right to health, nutrition, education, and recreation. Nigeria is signatory to the Convention for the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter, and thus the treatment of the young offenders must conform to international standards.
There is therefore an urgent need to ensure that these institutions are well funded and provided with their basic needs. The inmates must be equipped with the basic skills to fit easily into the larger society at the end of their reformation, and to fulfill their full potential.
The Foundation intends to collaborate with relevant government ministries responsible to harness a workable plan on the maintaining of the Home
And solicitation of teachers , vocation support and health care professionals.
Also included in the reform plan are full furniture for 6 classrooms, Teachers and students guide books and the proposal for the Incorporation of the school into the state school system.
Though the founder of MMAWT Legacy Initiative and wife of the Sokoto State, Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has been engaged in the reformation of the Sokoto State Remand home for the past 7 years, this renovation is intended as a Sadaqatul Jariya for her late Mother, Hajiya Saudatu Mustapha, May Allah SWT accept it and grant her eternal rest, Ameen.
