OACF JOINS OTHER CSOs, STAKEHOLDERS ON NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES, JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM
OACF JOINS OTHER CSOs, STAKEHOLDERS ON NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES, JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM
The Oluebube A. Chukwu Foundation (OACF) has joined other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and key justice-sector stakeholders in Abia State to advocate for the effective implementation of non-custodial measures as part of efforts to strengthen justice sector reform and address overcrowding in correctional facilities.
OACF was represented by its Programme Manager, Helen Mannic, at a one-day sensitisation workshop on Non-Custodial Measures for CSOs and stakeholders in Abia State, held on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the RoLAC Conference Hall, Umuahia.
The workshop was organised under the Advancing Implementation of Non-Custodial Solutions (AI-NCS) Project, with support from International IDEA and the European Union.
The engagement brought together representatives of CSOs and stakeholders across the justice and correctional sectors to discuss practical approaches to improving the adoption and implementation of alternatives to imprisonment.
Discussions focused on measures such as probation, parole, suspended sentences and community service, as well as challenges affecting their effective implementation.
One of the stakeholders at the workshop, Superintendent of Corrections (SC) Blessing Nwanganga, explained that non-custodial measures provide alternatives to imprisonment for eligible offenders, allowing them to undergo rehabilitation and serve certain sentences within their communities rather than being confined in correctional facilities.
She stressed that non-custodial measures should not be misconstrued as a means of allowing offenders to escape justice, but as structured interventions that promote accountability, rehabilitation, behavioural change and reintegration.
Nwanganga noted that such measures could also help reduce pressure on correctional facilities while enabling suitable offenders to remain connected to their families and communities.
Speaking from a social-development and community perspective, OACF Programme Manager, Helen Mannic, emphasised the importance of rehabilitation, reintegration and community-based interventions in reducing pressure on custodial facilities.
Mannic called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, CSOs, communities and justice-sector stakeholders to ensure that non-custodial measures move beyond policy provisions to effective implementation.
She also stressed the need for increased public awareness and sustained community engagement to change misconceptions surrounding non-custodial measures and ensure that eligible individuals receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives and make positive contributions to society.
The engagement further highlighted the importance of a justice system that balances accountability with rehabilitation, restoration and responsible reintegration.
The OACF's participation underscores its commitment to human-centred development, social inclusion, rehabilitation and the strengthening of communities.
The Foundation appreciated the organisers and participating stakeholders for providing a platform for dialogue and collaborative action towards a more effective, equitable and humane justice system in Abia State and Nigeria.
Building Today, For A Better Tomorrow.
oluebubeachukwufoundation.org
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