Switzerland donates human rights training manual to NPS

By Bode Olagoke
Abuja

The government of Switzerland has donated Human Rights training manual to the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), so as to assist the service in proper training of its officers and men.
The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Niger and Chad, Eric Mayoraz, who donated the manual to the Controller-General of the Service, Peter Ekpendu, yesterday in Abuja, said “the two countries have been working closely on various issues including that of human rights.”
He said: “Ensuring that Human Rights are main streamed as a natural and integral part of the operations by the Nigerian Prisons Service is a very important endeavour.
“Over the last years, we have been working closely together to build the capacity of NPS staff to comply with international standard in the training of inmates.”

Mayoraz added that the NPS and Switzerland, including implementing partners, UCHEFEM Consultants, had successfully integrated and main streamed a stronger human rights emphasis in to the NPS training syllabus at all levels.
He said the manual would improve the system and modernise the operations of the Prisons in the field of human rights.
On his part, the Controller of the Service said the manual would assist the Service with the best training for its officers.
“We also train Prisons officers from other West African countries. We would inculcate this knowledge in them and all those who pass through our training schools in the country,” he said.
He assured that human rights issues would be observed in the prisons in order to meet up with international best practices.