A Celebration of Sports and Community: Pastor Hillary Chukwuma’s Annual Football Tournament Redefines Sporting Engagement.
In a compelling demonstration of sports as a strategic tool for correctional reform and social reintegration, Skibo Global FC emerged champions of the maiden Pastor Hillary Chukwuma Football Tournament at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, after edging Graceland FC 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw in regulation time.
The tournament, which commenced on December 2, 2025, featured ten teams made up of inmates and correctional officers, reflecting the Nigerian Correctional Service’s (NCoS) growing institutional shift from punitive confinement to rehabilitation-driven correctional management.
Beyond the final scoreline, the competition provided a policy-relevant case study on how structured sports programmes contribute to discipline, mental wellness, teamwork, emotional stability, and social responsibility—key pillars of modern correctional administration globally.
The keenly contested final on December 13 attracted wide attention within the facility, as inmates, correctional officers, invited dignitaries, and observers witnessed a match marked by tactical discipline, resilience, and fair play. Skibo Global FC held their nerve during the penalty shootout, sparking emotional celebrations that echoed across the custodial centre.
Correctional Reform Through Sports
Speaking at the event, the FCT Command Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Christopher Peter Jen, described the tournament as a practical expression of the reform agenda of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Controller-General of Corrections, CG Sylvester Nwakuche, which prioritises vocational, recreational, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
“This tournament demonstrates that sports can transform lives even within custodial environments. It helps relieve depression, rebuild confidence, and reconnect inmates with society. Our facilities are not merely places of confinement but centres of correction, skill discovery, and preparation for reintegration,” Jen said.
He added that initiatives such as this align with global best practices, where structured sports and recreation have been proven to reduce recidivism and promote long-term behavioural change.
Governance Today Nigeria notes that the sustained focus of the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Correctional Service on rehabilitation-centred reforms continues to yield measurable outcomes deserving of national commendation.
Faith, Vision, and Social Responsibility
The sponsor and initiator of the tournament, Pastor Hillary Chukwuma, CEO of Nuga Best, disclosed that the football initiative began five years ago, inspired by faith, social responsibility, and a passion for youth and inmate transformation.
“This project was divinely inspired. When I prayed about making a positive impact among Nigerian youths and inmates, football, skills acquisition, and spiritual rebirth became the pillars of the vision God placed in my heart,” he explained.
Pastor Chukwuma urged inmates and Nigerian youths to reflect deeply on the consequences of crime and the value of freedom.
“Spending 10, 15, or even 50 years behind bars is a tragic loss—both to the individual and to society. My appeal to young people is to channel their energy positively while they still have freedom,” he said.
He also called on youths to remain law-abiding during and after the festive season and to prepare themselves for productive engagement in 2026.
High-Profile Support and Future Expansion
The finals was graced by notable dignitaries, including Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Senate President, and Chief Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP.
Pastor Chukwuma announced plans to expand the tournament nationally, inviting partnerships with government agencies, private-sector stakeholders, philanthropists, and development organisations committed to youth empowerment and inmate rehabilitation.
The tournament concluded with the presentation of trophies and medals, reinforcing the growing recognition of sports as an effective policy instrument for correctional transformation in Nigeria.
