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New Leaf Foundation operates a rich portfolio of programs designed to address every dimension of theinmate experience — from the moment of incarceration through to successful community reintegration.Our programs are organised into five broad categories, each addressing a critical need within theprison system and the re-entry journey.
The Joseph Experience is New Leaf Foundation flagship spiritual and psychological formation program, named after the Biblical figure of Joseph whose story of imprisonment, faithfulness, and ultimate restoration resonates deeply with incarcerated individuals. The program is facilitated by trained chaplains, counsellors, and faith leaders who deliver regular sessions inside correctional facilities. Through scripture study, reflective journaling, group discussions, and one-on-one mentorship, the Joseph Experience helps inmates reframe their circumstances, discover purpose in their present situation, and develop the character qualities — resilience, patience, integrity, and service — that will serve them well upon release. The program is open to inmates of all faiths and backgrounds, and is delivered with cultural sensitivity and respect.
The Skills Empowerment Academy is the vocational and technical arm of New Leaf Foundation programming. Recognising that the most powerful antidote to recidivism is economic opportunity, NLF partners with certified trainers, trade professionals, and technology educators to deliver hands-on, industry-relevant skills training directly within correctional facilities. Each training course runs in structured modules, culminating in a skills assessment and certification that inmates can present to employers upon release. The Academy currently offers ten distinct skills tracks — detailed fully on the Skills Academy page — spanning traditional trades, creative industries, construction, clean energy, and digital technology. Training is tailored to the economic contexts of each country of operation, ensuring that skills learned translate directly into local employment opportunities.
Prison Outreach is the pastoral heart of New Leaf Foundation work. Teams of trained volunteers, chaplains, and ministers conduct regular visits to correctional facilities across Nigeria and Kenya, offering worship services, Bible studies, prayer sessions, and personal spiritual counselling. The Outreach Ministry does not proselytise aggressively; instead, it offers an open invitation to hope, healing, and community regardless of religious background. Beyond spiritual care, the Outreach Ministry also serves as the frontline of NLF relationship-building with prison authorities, enabling the deeper programmatic work of the Skills Academy and Faith Academies to take root within the facilities.
One of the most pressing injustices in Nigeria prison system is the staggering number of inmates who are detained awaiting trial — often for years — without legal representation. Many of these individuals are incarcerated for minor offences and could have accessed bail or lighter sentences with adequate legal counsel. NLF Free Legal Aid team consists of qualified lawyers and paralegals who provide pro bono legal services to inmates who cannot afford representation. Services include case review, legal advice, bail applications, court representation for minor offences, and advocacy for improved prison conditions and access to justice. This programme is a powerful complement to the skills and re-entry work, addressing structural injustice at the same time as personal empowerment.
Through donations, partnerships with businesses, and volunteer drives, NLF's Compassion Ministry
provides:
• Hygiene kits and toiletries
• Reading materials, Bibles, and educational resources
• Medical supplies and basic healthcare advocacy
• Food support during religious seasons and special observances
• Family visit facilitation for inmates held far from their home communities
The Re-Entry Support Program is NLF structured response to one of the most critical and overlooked
moments in the criminal justice cycle — the period immediately before and after an inmate release.
Research consistently shows that the first days, weeks, and months after release are the most
vulnerable, and without adequate support, the pull toward recidivism is powerful.
NLF Re-Entry Program, delivered in partnership with Nigeria Ministry of Interior Affairs, focuses
specifically on inmates who are within 18 months of their release date, with a special emphasis on
those serving minor sentences. The program encompasses:
• Pre-Release Preparation — life skills workshops covering budgeting, job searching, CV writing,
and social reintegration skills
• Release Support — practical assistance on the day of release including transportation,
temporary accommodation referrals, and a small starter pack
• Post-Release Mentorship — a structured six-month mentorship program pairing released
inmates with trained community volunteers
• Job Placement Assistance — active partnership with local businesses and social enterprises
that are committed to employing ex-offenders
• Family Reconnection — facilitated sessions that help repair family relationships fractured by
incarceration
• Psychological Support — access to counsellors who specialise in post-incarceration adjustment
and trauma healing