Since the inception of the prison service in Nigeria, there have been little systematic educational provisions for prison inmates due to limited resource allocation. Early colonial studies have emphasized the custodial functions of the prison while silent on correctional functions of the modern prison. In view of the increasing emphasis on correctional education in most European countries and North America, this paper focused on the need to humanize the Nigerian prison system through educational provisions. Literacy education is viewed as helping ex-offenders develop positive social skills. In order to humanize the Nigerian prison environment there is an urgent need to adopt recent UN Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Offenders approved in 1990. The humanizing approach to penal administration through education and other socio-cultural activities is strongly encouraged by both Europe and North America.