Christian Chukwuka’s Journey From Swedish Prison To Helping Inmates

Mary Nnah

Christian Chukwuka lived in Europe for 30 years before returning to Nigeria to engage in the “business” of ex-convict rehabilitation. His journey began after serving an eight-year sentence in a Swedish prison for a drug trafficking offence.

Today, Chukwuka is the driving force behind Abounding Grace Foundation—a prison outreach and rehabilitation ministry reshaping lives across Nigeria and beyond.

Speaking in an interview with Thisday, he described those eight years in prison as both his breaking point and turning point.

He said, “It was there, in prison, that I encountered the rawness of pain, shame, and hopelessness; but also the overwhelming power of God’s mercy. I didn’t just serve time; I was transformed in it. That experience birthed a burden in my heart for those society has written off. Abounding Grace Foundation came from a vow I made to God behind bars, that if He gave me a second chance, I would spend my life reaching others like me with grace, dignity, and the truth that redemption is possible.”

Chukwuka added that the foundation doesn’t just preach religion, it “invites inmates into a relationship with Christ that restores identity, renews the mind, and reshapes destiny”.

While evangelism is central to AGF’s work, the foundation is also committed to meeting practical needs. Its programs include distributing food, clothing, and medical aid — even baby supplies for incarcerated mothers. Skills acquisition initiatives in tailoring, farming, and IT offer inmates tools to rebuild their lives post-incarceration.

“It’s not enough to preach hope; we must provide pathways to live it out,” he says. “We’ve seen former inmates become entrepreneurs, pastors, and advocates. That’s the power of pairing faith with opportunity.”

Reducing repeat offenses is a core goal of AGF’s work. The foundation supports ex-offenders through vocational training, mental health care, discipleship, and reintegration support.

“Rehabilitation without reintegration is a half-measure,” Chukwuka says. “We stay connected, help them find housing, start businesses, or get plugged into churches. Our work continues long after the prison gates open.”

Looking ahead, AGF aims to expand both locally and internationally. Plans are underway to establish rehabilitation centers in Nigeria, facilities that would function as halfway homes, vocational schools, and healing spaces. The foundation also seeks to grow its outreach to widows, youth, and African inmates in European prisons.

According to him, AGF provides a wide range of support services—from evangelism and humanitarian aid to skills acquisition programmes—and has visited over 146 prisons, reaching more than 19,000 inmates.