Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation

What Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation does

CELSIR (Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation) is a Nigerian nonprofit organization founded around 2020-2021, headquartered in Maryland, Lagos, that delivers holistic rehabilitation, education, and reentry services to justice-impacted individuals across correctional facilities in Lagos and Oyo states. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including Access to Justice (legal aid and representation), Education for Correctional Facilities (Adult Education, Juvenile Education Program launched October 2024, and Prison Library Project established 2020), the Justice Impacted Individuals Virtual Learning Project with over 65% beneficiary success rate, the Mobile Library and Virtual Book Club, Ruby House (Nigeria's first halfway home for formerly incarcerated women with capacity for 15 residents), Empower to Rebuild (vocational skills and economic empowerment), Psycho-Social Support, Reentry Support, and Research and Advocacy. Technology underpins delivery through virtual learning platforms, mobile library bus systems, and the Codeable tech skills training program delivered in partnership with SeamlessHR, though CELSIR is fundamentally a service-delivery nonprofit rather than a technology company.

CELSIR's business model is grant and donation-funded: the organization accepts individual donations, foundation grants (notably Ford Foundation support for the Mobile Library and Prison Library projects), and corporate partnerships, with services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. GTM motion is community-led, relying on partnerships with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and international justice reform bodies including Penal Reform International and the Incarceration Nations Network. The organization reports reaching over 14,000 justice-impacted individuals cumulatively, and received an Award for Outstanding Contribution from NCoS Zone A (Lagos and Ogun State) in 2025. Operating geographies are explicitly limited to Nigeria, with documented presence in Lagos and Oyo states, and the organization is led by Executive Director Joke Aladesanmi.

Name

Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation

Legal name

Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation

Website

https://celsir.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CELSIR is a Nigerian nonprofit founded around 2020-2021 that delivers holistic rehabilitation, legal aid, education, and reentry support to justice-impacted individuals across correctional facilities in Lagos and Oyo, including operating Ruby House, Nigeria's first halfway home for formerly incarcerated women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prison Rehabilitation and Reentry Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved) (EDAAABAI), Juvenile Justice Education Programs (Detention & Correctional Education) (EDAJAEAB), Corrections & Reentry Adult Literacy (Justice-Involved Learners) (EDAAAAAL)

Keywords

• Prison rehabilitation services
• Inmate education programs
• Legal aid services
• Reentry support services
• Halfway home operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and organizational donations to support rehabilitation programs, educational initiatives, and operational costs
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from organizations such as Ford Foundation for specific programs including the Mobile Library Project and other rehabilitation initiatives

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CELSIR delivers a holistic rehabilitation portfolio to justice-impacted individuals in Nigeria, including legal aid and representation, in-facility education (adult GCE preparation, juvenile education, mobile library access, e-library/NOUN university access), vocational and tech-skills training (Codeable, Empower to Rebuild), psycho-social counseling, transitional housing through Ruby House halfway home for formerly incarcerated women, and structured reentry support covering housing, employment, and social reintegration.

Product overview

CELSIR is a non-profit organization providing holistic rehabilitation and support services to justice-impacted individuals in Nigeria. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including the Ruby House (halfway home for women), education initiatives (Virtual Learning Project, Mobile Library, Prison Library Project), vocational training (Codeable tech skills program, Empower to Rebuild Project), legal support services, psycho-social support, and reentry assistance. The portfolio includes programmatic offerings such as the quarterly A Better Me motivational events and research/advocacy efforts for criminal justice reform. While not a technology platform, CELSIR incorporates technology through its Virtual Learning Project and Codeable program to deliver educational and vocational services to incarcerated populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ruby House: Nigeria's first halfway home for formerly incarcerated women, offering safe shelter, skills training, and tailored support for reintegration. With space for 15 residents, it includes a library, counseling rooms, and facilities for nursing mothers.
• Justice Impacted Individuals Virtual Learning Project
• Mobile Library and Virtual Book Club
• Prison Library Project
• Codeable
• A Better Me (ABM)
• Empower to Rebuild Project

Products and services

• Ruby House Halfway Home Transitional housing and reintegration support for formerly incarcerated women, with capacity for 15 residents, including a library, counseling rooms, and facilities for nursing mothers.
• Justice Impacted Individuals Virtual Learning Project Online education initiative providing incarcerated individuals with qualified tutors, educational resources, and National Examination preparation through virtual classroom technology.
• Mobile Library and Virtual Book Club Bus-serviced library providing incarcerated individuals access to information and educational resources, with virtual book reviews facilitated by authors and transformational coaches, supported by Ford Foundation.
• Prison Library Project Physical and electronic library at Ikoyi custodial centre established with Ford Foundation support, providing 21-user access to library materials and e-library access for NOUN degree students.
• Codeable Tech Skills Training Program Tech skills acquisition training in software development, product management, product design, and quality assurance for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, delivered in partnership with SeamlessHR.
• A Better Me (ABM) Quarterly Motivational Event Interactive quarterly motivational event for incarcerated individuals featuring stories of individuals who have overcome societal disadvantages.
• Access to Justice / Legal Aid Legal support services advocating for the rights and dignity of justice-impacted individuals, including legal aid and representation (e.g., legal representation for Mr. Mahfuz resulting in freedom after wrongful detention).
• Empower to Rebuild Project Vocational and skills training program supporting justice-impacted individuals with practical skills for economic empowerment and reintegration, with products sold through the Project Empower to Rebuild store.
• Psycho-Social Support Services Mental health and psychological support services for justice-impacted individuals to address trauma, depression, and emotional challenges during and after incarceration.
• Reentry Support Program Structured programs supporting formerly incarcerated individuals with housing, employment, and social reintegration assistance.
• Research and Advocacy Policy research, advocacy campaigns, and publications aimed at reforming the criminal justice system and promoting restorative justice approaches, including Reentry Guide and policy briefs.
• Juvenile Education Program Comprehensive learning program for children in juvenile detention facilities in Lagos, with a tailored curriculum including post-secondary education technology, designed to meet the unique needs of justice-impacted children and including BECE examination preparation.
• Adult Education Program Virtual tutorial classes for inmates registered for the General Certificate Examination (GCE) and ongoing adult education programs delivered in correctional facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,000 justice-impacted individuals reached through programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SeamlessHRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Codeable tech skills training program delivering software engineering, project management, product design, and quality assurance training to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals at Ikoyi correctional facility
• Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for the Juvenile Education Program piloting comprehensive learning opportunities for children in juvenile detention facilities in Lagos state
• Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner enabling program delivery across correctional facilities including access to Ikoyi, Agodi, and other custodial centers for education, health outreach, and rehabilitation initiatives
• The Safe House NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for HIV awareness and screening campaigns at correctional facilities, including partnership with A New Way of Life from Los Angeles
• A New Way of LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles-based organization providing training on safe reentry pathways for women; CELSIR's Executive Director participated in their three-day SAFE House Training to refine vision for Ruby House transitional home
• Penal Reform InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance partner; CELSIR Director represented West Africa at the launch of the Global Alliance of Civil Society Organizations on Prison Reform in Amsterdam, contributing to international prison reform discussions
• Incarceration Nations Network (INN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network hosting the Global Justice Convening and Global Freedom Consulting launch in Cape Town; CELSIR participated in discussions on justice reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration across nations
• National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership enabling incarcerated individuals to pursue university degrees through e-library facilities and virtual learning support at correctional centers
• Volunteer Tutors and EducatorsminorOthersNetwork of qualified tutors and educators providing virtual tutorial classes for GCE candidates in custody and ongoing educational support programs

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Fortune Society: New York-based nonprofit providing reentry support, housing, education, and advocacy for formerly incarcerated individuals. Comparable holistic model spanning education, housing, and reentry services for justice-impacted populations.
• The Last Mile: US-based nonprofit providing technology and entrepreneurship training inside correctional facilities. Closely comparable to CELSIR's Codeable program in delivering tech skills training to incarcerated individuals.
• Women's Prison Association: NYC-based organization serving women affected by incarceration and the criminal justice system. Directly comparable to CELSIR's Ruby House and women's reentry programming.
• A New Way of Life: Los Angeles-based organization providing safe reentry pathways and housing for formerly incarcerated women. A New Way of Life directly trained CELSIR's Executive Director on Ruby House operations, mirroring the same halfway-home model.
• Penal Reform International: International NGO working on prison reform and rehabilitation globally. CELSIR is a direct partner and represented West Africa at PRI's Global Alliance launch, addressing the same justice-impacted populations.
• Incarceration Nations Network: Global network advancing prison reform and rehabilitation through convenings and consulting. CELSIR participates in INN's Global Justice Convening and Global Freedom Consulting, sharing a directly comparable mission.
• Prison Fellowship International: Global Christian organization working in prison rehabilitation and aftercare across dozens of countries. Operates comparable in-prison education, mentoring, and reentry programs in African and other jurisdictions.

Others

• Just Detention International: International health and human rights organization focused on prisoner rape and sexual abuse. Adjacent in advocacy for incarcerated populations but distinct in programmatic focus.
• The Sentencing Project: US research and advocacy organization promoting criminal justice reform. Comparable in policy research, advocacy, and reform-oriented publications but does not deliver direct services.

Regional players

• African Prisons Project: Africa-focused organization addressing legal, healthcare, and education needs of prisoners across the continent. Operates in the same regional context as CELSIR with overlapping prison-education and justice-reform mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CELSIR_ORG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoCS-8f9YzNL3PefZ13Bmlg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CELSIR.ORG
• Instagraminstagram.com/celsir_
• TikToktiktok.com/@celsir_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation