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Who we are

About us

We are a group of people dedicated to reforming the prison system in Nigeria, for a system that treats every person in custody with dignity.

Who we are

We work for a humane system, one that reflects the principle set out by Sir Alexander Paterson, Prison Commissioner for England and Wales in the 1920s:

“Men are sent to prison as a punishment, not for punishment.”

Losing your liberty is the punishment. Hard labour and inhumane, degrading conditions should not be added to it. Every prisoner, however long their sentence, will one day return to society. That is why they must be treated humanely and fully rehabilitated before they come home.

Our mission

To promote fair penal treatment and reform in Nigeria. We aim to reduce the prison population to a manageable level, improve conditions for those inside, and make sure people awaiting trial are treated as innocent until proven guilty.

What we stand for

  • Dignity: humane treatment for everyone in custody.
  • Due process: no one should wait years for a trial.
  • Second chances: rehabilitation and reintegration, not just confinement.
  • Life: an end to capital punishment in Nigeria.
  • Independence: we are funded by members and supporters, not government.

Our emblem

The Testadura emblem: a lashed frame with two raised figures, gold hands and a three-spike T

Our emblem tells the story of our work in one picture.

  • The lashed frame is the prison: bars bound at every corner, the system we work to change.
  • Two raised figures are people restored to dignity, the outcome every programme works towards.
  • The gold hands stand for care and welfare, our practical support inside and outside prison.
  • The three-spike T is Testadura itself.
  • Gold rivets mark the value of every life held behind those bars.

Why “Testadura”?

Testa dura is Italian for “hard head”: someone stubborn who will not give up. Prison reform takes exactly that kind of persistence. We are proudly stubborn for justice.

Independent and member-powered

Testadura is completely independent of government and relies on voluntary donations from members and supporters. The best way to support our work is to become a member and add your voice to our movement for change, wherever you are in the world.

Our team

Meet our trustees and team, and see our registration, reports and accounts.