Renowned Social Scientist and founder of PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, joins NICFFI

Dr. Uju Agomoh is the Executive Director Prisoners’ Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA) – with a mission of promoting institutional reforms in formal and informal sector for access to justice, rehabilitation, and social development of prisoners, ex-prisoners, torture victims and youth at risks. She is a Member of the United Nations Sub Committee on Prevention of Torture(SPT), Executive Committee Member, African Security Sector Network (ASSN),Member- Independent Investigation Panel of Inquiry on Nigeria Police Force Squad(SARS) and other Specialised Units Alleged Cases of Human Rights Violation(Appointed in 2020), Co-Chair- Development Law Group (DLG) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) (July 2021 - July 2023), Member- World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Global SOS-Torture Covid 19 Crisis Action Group (September 2021-December 2022). Some of her past posts/assignments include the following: Team Lead - Prisons/Corrections Component of the Nigeria Security and Justice Reform Programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government (August 2017 – Feb 2018); Project Coordinator - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) Support to Justice Sector in Nigeria (a project funded by the European Union under the 10^th European Union Development Fund (October 2016 – August 2017), Lead Consultant – for the design of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Project under the 11^th European Union Development Fund (April – June 2016); Executive Committee Member (representing Sub Saharan Africa) - International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)  (2012-2016); Council Member and the Special Rapporteur on Police, Prisons and Centers of Detention – Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (2001 - 2008); Member -  Presidential Committee on Prerogative of Mercy Committee of Nigeria (2006 - 2009), Member Presidential Committee on Prison Decongestion (1999 – 2001, 2013 - 2014). She was until July 2013 a Research Fellow at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) University of Nigeria Nsukka (Enugu Campus).  President - International Corrections and Prisons Association Africa - Chapter (ICPA-Africa) 2013 – 2018.

Dr Uju Agomoh academic qualifications include the following: B.Sc Psychology (University of Jos, Nigeria), M.Sc Clinical Psychology (University of Lagos, Nigeria), M.Sc Sociology: Deviant Behavior (University of Ibadan, Nigeria), M.Phil Criminology (University of Cambridge, England), PhD Criminology/Prisons Studies (University of Ibadan, Nigeria), LLB Law (Queenmary & Westfield College, University of London, England), BL (Nigerian Law School). She is a Chevening Scholar, a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, the 2014 Edwin Megargee Distinguish Lecturer, Nigerian Bar Association Criminal Justice Reformer 2018 Awardee, Vision Africa Face of Humanity 2019 Awardee, and the Vision Africa Personality Award 2019.

Dr. Agomoh's work involves training, research advocacy, assessment, program design and implementation of over 72 projects on security, justice, corrections and development related issues in many African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and the Gambia. She has personally carried out over 1000 prison /monitoring visits covering about 150 prisons in 32 countries. She has authored/co-authored to date thirty (30) books, four training manuals and directed the production of four (4) audio-visual documentaries on death penalty, treatment of mentally ill prisoners, torture, and prison conditions in Nigeria.