Restorative Justice for Africa opens a halfway home restorative justice shelter in Nasarawa for formerly incarcerated people to rebuild their lives
Restorative Justice for Africa has opened a halfway home restorative justice shelter in Nasarawa State to support formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives.
The newly launched facility, known as the Restored Voices Shelter, aims to address one of Nigeria’s most persistent criminal justice gaps: post-incarceration reintegration.
It was officially opened on 3 July 2025 in Ado, Karu Local Government Area, during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders across the justice sector.
According to REJA Executive Director Osariemen Omoruyi-Shobanke, the halfway home restorative justice initiative provides dignity and direction for ex-inmates, especially those unjustly detained or released with no place to return.
“Restorative Justice for Africa is excited to unveil the first-ever Halfway Home and transitional shelter for formerly incarcerated individuals in Nasarawa State,” she said.
“This groundbreaking initiative marks a major leap forward in reimagining justice in Nigeria, offering dignity, direction, and hope to formerly incarcerated persons who were unjustly detained or have no family or home to return to.”
The launch drew a significant turnout, including representatives of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, officials from the Non-Custodial Directorate of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and leaders of several civil society organisations such as ROLAC, Prison Fellowship International, and Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.
Omoruyi-Shobanke said the shelter is designed as a transitional hub that bridges the reintegration gap plaguing Nigeria’s justice system.
With temporary housing, psychosocial services, vocational training, and life skills programmes, the shelter will function as a self-sustaining centre run by formerly incarcerated persons.
Let’s restore voices and rewrite futures together.
“For years, REJA has provided legal aid and restorative justice interventions. But in the course of that work, it became painfully clear that post-release support was missing. The Restored Voices Shelter is our answer to this problem; it is a safe, supportive space for transformation,” she explained.
A highlight of the launch was the introduction of a new Model Practice Direction on Restorative Justice for Nigerian Courts.
The directive outlines a standardised approach to restorative justice implementation across judicial systems and promotes community-driven resolutions and reintegration-focused sentencing.
The shelter also seeks to work closely with educational institutions such as Taraba State University and local colleges to provide training to future professionals in law and social services.
Its location within reach of justice system actors is expected to boost collaboration and innovation in rehabilitation.
Omoruyi-Shobanke encouraged partnerships from government, non-profits, and private individuals to sustain the initiative.
She reiterated REJA’s belief in healing and inclusion through restorative systems.
“The initiative is part of REJA’s broader mission to close the justice and inequality gap and reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system by tackling the root causes of injustice and repeat offending, particularly among indigent and wrongfully detained persons.
“If you believe in second chances, true justice, and healing through community, we invite you to partner with us. Let’s restore voices and rewrite futures together,” Omoruyi-Shobanke concluded.
The Restored Voices Shelter is one of the first purpose-built halfway homes in Nigeria and is expected to become a model for other states working to transform justice through humane and inclusive reintegration efforts.
The Habeeb Okunola Foundation (HOF) transformed a standard community gathering into a powerful launchpad for female entrepreneurship in Brampton, Canada, on the 13th of March 2026, delivering a high-impact celebration of International Women’s Day 2026. Far beyond a ceremonial event, the foundation, in partnership with Make Mee Elegant Foundation, the City of Brampton, and The Salvation Army, orchestrated a comprehensive day of skill-building and recognition designed to create tangible economic change for local women.
At the heart of the initiative was an intensive hands-on training session held within the welcoming walls of The Salvation Army’s Brampton premises. The room buzzed with creative energy as women from the local community immersed themselves in learning practical, marketable crafts. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, they mastered the intricacies of crafting durable flip-flop slippers, the delicate art of cloth stoning to embellish fabrics, and the precise work of creating fancy key holders. The goal was clear: to provide these women with immediate, accessible tools to generate side income.
High Chief Dr Habeeb Olalekan Okunola, the founder of the foundation and President of CINI Holdings, who was represented by Mrs Kehinde Adelaja-Okoroafor was present to witness and coordinate the transformation firsthand. She articulated the driving philosophy behind the event, stating that for the founder of HOF, empowerment is the most meaningful expression of wealth. She further stressed that the objective was not just to teach a skill, but to ignite a transition, turning attendees from talented individuals into confident business owners who could leverage their newly acquired abilities to build sustainable livelihoods.
In a decisive move to bridge the gap between learning and earning, the foundation identified three exceptional students from the workshop and provided them with immediate start-up capital. This direct financial boost was met with visible joy and relief, ensuring that their newfound skills would not lie dormant but would instead be fueled into immediate entrepreneurial action.
The city’s leadership took significant notice of the foundation’s impactful work. His Worship, Mayor Patrick Brown, offered a ringing endorsement of HOF’s initiative, commending their choice to invest in Brampton’s women. He personally extended his gratitude to High Chief Okunola with an official letter of thanks, acknowledging the foundation’s exceptional contribution to the community and extending an invitation for a formal meeting in May 2026 to explore future avenues for partnership with the City of Brampton.
On the 14th of March momentum carried into the day with an awards ceremony, where the Deputy Mayor stood in for Mayor Brown to help spotlight the achievements of local heroines. The event honoured a selection of prominent Brampton women whose tireless efforts and significant impact have helped shape the community. This dual focus empowering the next wave of female entrepreneurs while celebrating established leaders perfectly encapsulated the shared mission of the Habeeb Okunola Foundation and Make Mee Elegant Foundation to champion the development and success of women at every stage of their journey. The event served as a powerful testament to what international collaboration and community-focused action can achieve in the pursuit of gender equality and economic empowerment.
Trending News5 years ago
Others4 years ago
Humanity4 years ago
Others7 years ago
Business2 years ago
Business2 years ago