An inmate at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre has emerged as the winner of the maiden Chess in Prison Championship organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, walking away with a prize of N1 million.
The competition, held on Tuesday at the correctional facility, featured 42 participants drawn from the state’s medium and maximum custodial centres competing across various categories.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the initiative as groundbreaking and urged inmates to use the lessons from chess to unlock their potential.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Babatunde Ogundare, the minister said, “This is not just a correctional facility but a place to rebuild lives. Use the lessons from this game to reflect on your life and discover the hidden value within you.”
He commended the UNODC for the initiative, adding that it would promote critical thinking and foster stronger relationships between inmates and correctional officers. He also assured inmates of plans to upgrade the centre’s infrastructure to meet the standards of the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
“We are working towards replicating the standards of Kuje Correctional Centre across all custodial centres in the country,” he said.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Reformation, Chinedu Ogah, announced a N1 million cash reward for the winner, to be handed over upon completion of the inmate’s six-month remaining sentence.
Ogah, who expressed satisfaction with the UNODC initiative, also promised to address pressing challenges faced by inmates, including water scarcity. “Next week, contractors will be on-site to fix the water issues you are facing,” he assured.
Guinness World Record holder and Chess in Slums Africa convener, Tunde Onakoya, also pledged N100,000 in cash prizes for the top three contestants.
UNODC Project Coordinator for Prisons and Penal Reforms highlighted the initiative’s aim to equip inmates with critical life skills, enhance mental health, and prepare them for reintegration into society.
