Borno prisoner wins ₦1m in maiden chess competition
An inmate at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre in Borno State has won a ₦1 million prize at the inaugural Chess in Prison Championship, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The competition, held on Tuesday within the correctional facility’s premises, brought together 42 participants from the State Medium and Maximum Correctional Centres, competing across various award categories.
Commending the initiative, the Minister, represented by his Technical Adviser on Corrections, Mr Babatunde Ogundare, highlighted the benefits of the programme in fostering critical thinking skills and enhancing relationships between inmates and custodial personnel.
“This is a unique initiative. A correctional centre is not a punitive home; it is designed to reform and help you become a better person. Use this knowledge to evaluate your life, reflect, and uncover your hidden potential,” he urged.
Addressing the inmates, the Minister added, “Being free outside does not make anyone better than you. Let the lessons from today shape your behaviour and future.”
He also assured the inmates of plans to improve infrastructure at correctional centres nationwide, stating: “We are working towards replicating the standards of the Kuje Correctional Centre across the country.”
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The Chairman of the House Committee on Reformation, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, announced a ₦1 million reward for the competition winner, to be presented upon completing the inmate’s remaining six-month sentence.
“I am pledging ₦1 million as support. This will be handed over to you after serving your term,” he said. He also promised to address the water challenges faced by the inmates, stating: “You will see contractors on site next week to tackle this issue.”
Similarly, Guinness World Record (GWR) holder and Chess in Slums Africa convener, Tunde Onakoya, announced an additional donation of ₦100,000 for the contestants who finished in the first, second, and third positions.
UNODC Project Coordinator for Prisons and Penal Reforms explained the initiative’s purpose, stating: “The project aims to equip inmates with critical life skills, improve mental health, and provide a constructive outlet for their energy, enhancing their reintegration prospects post-release.”
In November, UNODC collaborated with Chess in Slums Africa to train over 100 prisoners and correctional officers in Maiduguri.
The training culminated in a series of knockout chess sessions, culminating in the Annual Chess in Prisons Championship on 10 December, coinciding with International Human Rights Day.
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