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The New Leaf Foundation Skills Academy is a structured, certified vocational and digital training
program delivered inside correctional facilities across Nigeria, with plans for expansion into other NLF
operational countries. Each skills track is designed in consultation with industry professionals, local
employers, and vocational education experts to ensure that what is taught inside prison walls is directly
applicable to the employment market outside.
All Academy participants receive a certificate of completion upon successful assessment, which serves
as a verifiable credential recognised by NLF’s partner employers and supporting organisations. The
Academy currently offers the following ten tracks:
The Digital Skills program is New Leaf Foundation's most recently launched and fastest-growing skills track, operating currently in Nigeria. In a world where digital literacy is increasingly a prerequisite for employment across virtually every sector, NLF's Digital Skills Academy provides incarcerated individuals with access to the knowledge and tools that many on the outside take for granted. The program begins with foundational digital literacy — understanding how computers and smartphones work, navigating the internet safely and productively, using email, and handling basic file management. From this foundation, participants progress to practical office productivity tools (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations), before advancing to applied digital skills including basic graphic design using accessible tools, social media management for small businesses, and an introduction to digital freelancing platforms. Tablets and refurbished laptops are brought into participating correctional facilities under a secure and supervised arrangement with facility management. Training is delivered by certified digital literacy tutors who are experienced in working with adult learners in non-traditional settings. Each cohort runs for 12 weeks, with assessments at each module and a final practical project.
Rooted in the rich West African tradition of textile artistry, the Tie Dye (Adire) program teaches inmates the ancient and commercially viable art of fabric dyeing. Adire — the Yoruba word for tied and dyed fabric — has seen a significant revival in Nigerian fashion and the global African diaspora textile market, making it not just a cultural craft but a commercially lucrative skill. Participants learn the full production process from raw fabric preparation, wax resist techniques, colour theory and dye chemistry, to pattern creation, finishing, and quality control. Advanced modules cover pricing, branding, packaging, and selling at markets or online platforms. Many graduates of this program have gone on to establish successful Adire-based micro-businesses upon release.
The Barbering Grooming program provides inmates with a practical, high-demand trade that requires minimal startup capital upon release. Professional barbers are consistently in demand in Nigerian communities, and a well-trained barber can establish a viable livelihood with little more than a set of quality tools and a rented space. The program covers all core barbering competencies: scissor and clipper techniques, fade cuts, pattern cutting, beard sculpting and shaping, hygiene and sanitation standards, and basic customer relations. Advanced sessions include salon management, record-keeping, and strategies for building a loyal clientele. Participants complete their training with a full practical assessment and receive industry- standard tools as part of a Starter Kit provided by NLF upon graduation.
Nigeria's booming construction and real estate sector creates consistent demand for skilled painters and decorators. The Painting & Decoration program equips inmates with the technical skills to enter this market competitively, either as independent contractors or as part of construction crews. Training covers surface preparation and priming, interior emulsion painting, exterior weather-resistant coatings, colour selection and mixing, brush, roller, and spray techniques, as well as decorative finishes including stencilling and wallpaper installation. Safety and occupational health standards are integrated throughout the program, preparing graduates for professional work environments.
Footwear production is one of Nigeria's most enduring artisan industries, with a growing domestic market and increasing export interest in handcrafted African designs. The Shoe Making program combines traditional cobbling techniques with contemporary design principles, preparing graduates to produce marketable footwear and enter the Nigerian fashion market. Participants learn to work with leather, synthetic fabrics, and rubber materials. They master pattern drafting, cutting, stitching (both hand and machine), lasting, and finishing. The program also covers shoe repair — an accessible starting point for many graduates — as well as the basics of running a small footwear production or repair business. NLF partners with Nigerian fashion entrepreneurs to create market linkages for graduates.
The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector offers one of the most accessible entrepreneurship pathways for newly released inmates, and soap making sits at its heart. The Soap Making program teaches participants to produce a range of personal care and household soaps using both traditional and modern techniques, from simple bar soaps to liquid soaps and specialty beauty products. Training includes chemical safety and handling (with a strong emphasis on workplace safety), cold- process and melt-and-pour soap-making techniques, fragrance and additive incorporation, product testing, packaging design, and branding. Business development components cover costing, pricing for different market segments (neighbourhood market, salons, corporate supply), and strategies for growing from a home-based operation to a registered enterprise.
With Nigeria experiencing persistent electricity supply challenges and a rapidly growing solar energy market, Solar Installation is among the most timely and future-proof skills NLF offers. As Nigeria accelerates its transition to decentralised renewable energy, the demand for trained solar technicians far outstrips supply — making this a high-opportunity field for NLF graduates. The Solar Installation program covers the fundamentals of photovoltaic energy systems, including solar panel technology and types, system sizing and design, cable management and electrical safety, inverter and battery installation and configuration, system testing and fault diagnosis, and maintenance protocols. The program is delivered in partnership with a certified renewable energy training provider and leads to a qualification that is recognised by the renewable energy industry.
Construction is one of Nigeria's most consistently active economic sectors, and masonry remains a foundational and in-demand skilled trade. The Masonry & Bricklaying program prepares inmates to enter the construction workforce as competent, safety-conscious tradespeople who can command fair wages and steady employment. The curriculum covers mortar mixing and preparation, block and brick laying, wall construction and alignment, foundation work basics, plastering and rendering, tiling (floor and wall), and construction site safety standards. Participants also receive an introduction to reading basic construction plans and communicating effectively with contractors and site supervisors. Several program graduates have gone on to establish their own small construction contracting businesses.
The New Leaf Prison Fellowship Academy is a deep, immersive faith-based program designed to facilitate genuine spiritual transformation among incarcerated individuals through structured discipleship, scripture engagement, and community of faith. Delivered within correctional facilities in Kenya, the Academy is facilitated by trained prison chaplains, pastors, and lay ministers who are committed to the long-term spiritual accompaniment of inmates, not just a single visit or service. The Academy follows a defined curriculum that guides participants through foundational Christian teaching, character formation, identity in Christ, forgiveness and reconciliation (including self- forgiveness), and the practical application of faith values in daily life — even within the challenging environment of a prison. Group fellowship sessions foster community and accountability, while one-on- one pastoral meetings provide space for personal spiritual direction. What distinguishes the Prison Fellowship Academy from conventional prison ministry is its intentionality around continuity: participants are connected with church communities in their home areas before release, ensuring that their faith journey continues and that they are received into a supportive spiritual community upon return home.
The New Leaf Leadership Academy is built on a conviction that has been proven time and again in NLF's experience: among the incarcerated population are individuals of remarkable potential — people who, given the right formation, mentorship, and opportunity, will not merely survive post-release but will actively contribute to the transformation of their communities. The Leadership Academy identifies and nurtures these emerging leaders through a rigorous, faith- grounded development program that combines biblical leadership principles with practical leadership skills. Participants explore servant leadership, community development frameworks, conflict mediation and peacebuilding, public speaking and communication, and the principles of ethical, accountable leadership. Many Leadership Academy graduates go on to become community advocates, peer mentors, church leaders, and social entrepreneurs in their communities. The Academy produces not just individuals who have turned a new leaf personally, but individuals who help entire communities do the same.