Michael F. Easley
Governor

Theodis Beck
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

Nigerian prison officials to tour NC facilities

RALEIGH – The government of Nigeria, in an effort to reform its antiquated prison system, will send 60 managers to North Carolina over the next year to tour North Carolina’s correctional facilities and observe its prison management systems.

 Beginning October 22, five Nigerian Prison Service managers per month will arrive in Raleigh to work with a host committee to learn what might help them reform the Nigerian prisons. The project was spearheaded by Dr. Abel Ekpunobi, a native of Nigeria who has worked in corrections and is now CEO at Measurematics, a human informatics company based in Chapel Hill.   

While attending the American Correctional Association summer conference in Charlotte last year, Dr. Ekpunobi met Olousola Ogundipe, the Nigerian Prisons Service controller general, who indicated a desire to create a steady relationship with the North Carolina prison system.

 “While we have hosted numerous visitors from other states and countries, the longevity of this initiative makes this project historic, and we anticipate it will produce remarkable benefits toward the reform of the Nigerian Prisons System,” said David Osborne, assistant director of the North Carolina Division of Prisons.

 The Division of Prisons has 32 employees who are natives of Nigeria, have family members in Nigeria or have expressed a special interest in the project.  They will serve on the host committee which will conduct the tours of North Carolina prisons along with other DOP leadership.  Nigeria has 144 prisons plus 83 satellite camps with a total population of about 40,444.  North Carolina has 79 prisons with a population of about 38,900.

Monday Oct. 22
8 a.m. – Welcome & briefings at Division of Prisons HQ – 831 W. Morgan St. Raleigh
1 p.m. – Tour Central Prison – Raleigh
2:45 p.m. – Tour Wake Correctional Center – Raleigh

 Tuesday Oct. 23
9:30 a.m. – Tour Maury Correctional Institution – Greene County

 Wednesday Oct. 24
9 a.m. – Tour Nash Correctional Institution – Nashville
1 p.m. – Tour Fountain Correctional Center for Women – Rocky Mount

EDITOR'S: If you would like to schedule an interview or photo/video session, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 919-716-3700.

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office     4202 Mail Service Center     Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700      Fax: (919) 716-3795     www.doc.state.nc.us