Astro-Prison Project
The Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) in conjunction with the International
Astronomical Union, West African Regional Office, University of Nigeria Nsukka, paid a courtesy visit to
the Officer in Charge of Onitsha custodial Centre DCC Anungwa. The courtesy visit centred on the
implementation of the Astro-Prison project in Onitsha. The project will train inmates snail farming and set-
up a snail farm, conduct medical outreach, support inmates’ annual sports tournament and sensitize them
using pale blue-dot.
The Astro-Prison project team was well received, by the DCC Anungwa and his team. They welcomed the
project and expressed willingness to support its success. The project team was taken on a facility tour – the
female wing of the custodial centre, which houses 68 female inmates, the piggery, the skill acquisition
centre (which was landscaped with support from the Catholic Arch Bishop). During the tour of the facility,
a site was identified and allocated to snail farm. The skill acquisition centre has sections for barbing,
tailoring, wielding, and several others. The facility seeks support to establish a confectionary training
school, where inmates will learn how to baking skills. At CAPIO, we believe that skill-acquisition is one
of the best tools for inmates to live a meaningful life in custody and after release; we therefore, call on
well-meaning Nigerians to support the establishment of confectionary school and other skill acquisitions at
the Custodial centre.
