APPRAISING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF VOCATIONAL SKILLS ACQUISITION PROGRAMME ON PRISON INMATES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study seeks to evaluate the economic benefits of Vocational Skills Acquisition (VSA) programme on prison inmates in Kaduna State using descriptive survey research design (tables and percentages). The population of the study comprised 571 prison inmates in the Kaduna Central Prison out of which 420 respondents were randomly selected. Data collection was via self-constructed questionnaire with reliability index of 0.81. The results show that the prison inmates in Kaduna Central Prison have benefited from the VSA programme. Many of them have acquired skills to make them useful to themselves and society at large. Sequel to the findings, it was recommended among other things that the Nigerian government should introduce and extend more similar programmes to other prison facilities. Also the government and other stakeholders should provide the much needed support for discharged inmates so as to hasten their integration into the society.