NCoS unveils unified training manual, standardised course badges
By Adebayo Gbeja
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has unveiled its first-ever Unified Training Manual and standardised professional course badges for its training institutions nationwide.
This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, by the NCoS Public Relations Officer, CSC Jane Osuji.
Osuji said the initiative was aimed at promoting uniformity, professionalism and contemporary capacity development across the service training architecture.
She quoted the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, as describing the initiative as a landmark achievement that would strengthen professionalism, institutional identity and uniformity in personnel training.
Nwakuche commended the manual review committee and other personnel who contributed to the development of the new training manual and course badges.
He said the manual replaced the 2019 edition, and had been reviewed to reflect contemporary correctional practices, emerging security challenges and professional demands.
According to him, the manual provides a unified framework for training across various cadres, disciplines and specialised areas of the service.
He also said that the framework covered command courses, commissioned officers’ courses, basic recruit and Chief Corrections Assistants courses, as well as specialised and refresher courses.
He added that the manual was developed internally by NCoS personnel, representing a shift from the previous practice of relying substantially on external bodies for training materials.
“The internally developed curriculum is expected to strengthen institutional ownership and preserve professional knowledge within the service,” he said.
Nwakuche, who was decorated with one of the newly unveiled course badges, described the badge as a symbol of professional identity and accomplishment.
He urged officers to uphold the discipline, values and professional excellence represented by the badges.
He said the initiative was part of ongoing reforms to strengthen institutional capacity, promote training excellence and build a modern correctional workforce.
The NCoS controller general also decorated Deputy Controllers-Generals with the advanced command course badge in recognition of their professional advancement.
Speaking on the initiative, the Deputy Controller-General in charge of Training and Staff Development, DCG Olanrewaju Amoran, said the manual was designed to provide a single contemporary training resource for the service.
Amoran said the development process drew on the expertise of experienced personnel across relevant professional areas to ensure that the content reflected institutional experience and operational realities.
He said the manual would serve as a common reference for instructors and trainees, promote consistency in course delivery and enhance professional training across NCoS institutions.
The DCG added that the initiative would also strengthen continuous professional development by providing standardised learning materials throughout officers’ career progression.
Earlier, the Chairman of the manual review committee and DCG in charge of Human Resources Directorate, Ado Sale, said the course badges were professional distinctions earned through prescribed training.
Sale stressed that the badges were not ceremonial accessories or items for sale in open markets, but were formally conferred by commandants of NCoS training institutions.
The ceremony featured the presentation of an Award of Excellence to Nwakuche by the review committee for his leadership and support for the initiative.
The controller-general also presented plaques and certificates of recognition to committee members for their contributions to developing the curriculum and training manuals.
(NAN)
