The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Chess in Slums Africa, and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have collaborated to host the first-ever Annual Chess in Prisons Championship.
The event was held on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024, at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, to coincide with International Human Rights Day.
The competition saw both prisoners and officers vying for the prestigious title of “Chess Master,” showcasing their chess skills, with the programme emphasizing on building sportsmanship, mutual respect, and personal transformation.
The programme also set out to empower through training as over 100 prisoners with officers undergoing training sessions, gaining valuable life skills through chess workshops.
It also promoted the establishment of Chess Club as Prisoners formed a chess club, with over 200 enrolments recorded, even as it fostered Community building promoting collaboration and shared learning among prisoners and officers, fostering unity.
The programme equally advanced rehabilitation as the initiative strengthened the NCoS’s commitment to meaningful rehabilitation by focusing on cognitive development and positive reinforcement.
UNODC Representative, Cheikh Toure,, emphasized the programme’s impact, stating that: “Chess is more than just a game; it’s a platform for learning strategy, patience, and decision-making—skills crucial for successful reintegration into society.”
This innovative programme highlights the transformative power of chess in rehabilitating and empowering individuals, promoting human rights and dignity in correctional settings.
