In a remarkable display of skill and strategy, an inmate at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre has emerged victorious in the inaugural Chess in Prison Championship, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The winner took home a prize of N1 million, courtesy of the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformation, Chinedu Ogah.
The competition, held on Tuesday at the correctional facility, featured 42 participants from medium and maximum custodial centres in the state, competing across various categories.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, commended the UNODC for the initiative, describing it as “groundbreaking” and urging inmates to use the lessons from chess to unlock their potential.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Babatunde Ogundare, the minister emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“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 said.
“We are working towards replicating the standards of Kuje Correctional Centre across all custodial centres in the country,” he added.
The initiative aims to equip inmates with critical life skills, enhance mental health, and prepare them for reintegration into society. Guinness World Record holder and Chess in Slums Africa convener, Tunde Onakoya, pledged N100,000 in cash prizes for the top three contestants.
The event also highlighted the need to address pressing challenges faced by inmates, including water scarcity. Ogah assured inmates that contractors would begin work next week to fix the water issues.
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