1,137 prisoners have been registered for the National Examination Council of Nigeria’s external exams in the last 12 years, according to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Enugu State Command.
This was revealed to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Enugu by Mr. Nicholas Obiako, the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State.
According to the controller, 124 prisoners were taking the current NECO external exam at the Enugu Custodial Center’s Special Study Center.
Obiako observed that in terms of the convicts’ pursuit of education and development, the three state-run custodial facilities—Enugu, Nsukka, and Oji River—had been performing well.
He claims that 124 prisoners are taking the NECO exam right now, making them among the most inmates in any given state in the county.
“For over many years now, our inmates come out with excellent results as we invest heavily in grooming them right from the primary and secondary school classes and quality adult education classes in the centres.
“Most of those who will make their result in their chosen field of study will seek direct admission to the university through the National Open University of Nigeria that has a study centre in Enugu Custodial Centre.
“For those that cannot continue, they will be enrolled into various vocational centres – tailoring, leather, iron, wood works etc – and they will be groomed to pass a trade test examination for certification before graduating from the vocational training,” he said.
Obiako also lauded the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr Haliru Nababa, for his administration’s focus on education as a viable tool for reformation, re-orientation, and reintegration of the inmates back into society.
“The Nigeria Correctional Service under Nababa’s watch has committed available resources to ensure that inmates develop themselves while in custody, to ensure self-reliance and public protection even after their stay in the custodial centre,” he added.
According to Mr. Kelvin Iloafonsi, a Deputy Controller of Corrections overseeing Operations, there has been no recidivism among former inmates who attended school in the detention centers as a result of their pursuit of education and earning of certifications while incarcerated.
According to Iloafonsi, Mr. Nababa, the Controller-General of Corrections, came up with the idea for the 0% recidivism rate in order to guarantee workable reformation options.
“I must commend our hardworking and resourceful C-G of Corrections, which has created the enabling environment for inmates to study and also improve on their academic proficiency.
Iloafonsi, who is also the Desk Officer of the National Open University of Nigeria, said that some NGOs, such as the Catholic Prisoners’ Interest Organisation and others assisted in the education of the inmates.
“They have been an immense help to us since the inception of educational reforms and, in fact, the ongoing 2023 NECO exams; CAPIO registered about 90 per cent of the 124 inmates writing the exam and other public-spirited individuals took care of the rest.
“We are asking for more NGOs to come to the aid of the inmates and partner with us to help teach them how to fish and become responsible when they are released,” he said.
NAN
