127 Enugu inmates to sit for NECO exams

About 127 inmates of the Enugu custodial centre are expected to sit for the November/December National Examination Council (NECO) senior secondary certificate examination (external).

Monday Chukwuemeka, the public relations officer of the state command of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday.

Chukwuemeka said that the NCoS under the leadership of Haliru Nababa, the controller-general of corrections, was focused on using education as a viable tool for reforming inmates in custodial centres in the state.

“This has resulted in the admission of over 400 inmates into various degree programmes of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) across the federation,” he said.

He disclosed that Nichola Obiakor, the state controller of corrections, appreciated the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO) and Isaac Blessings Foundation for financing the registration of 71 and 56 inmates respectively for the NECO examination.

The spokesperson also said that the controller solicited the support of the general public to end the stigmatisation of ex-inmates to ensure they were fully re-integrated into the society.

“The command is advising inmates to emulate previous inmates who performed excellently in NECO exams as well as pursue other higher educational attainments,” he said.

“The command is encouraging other inmates to utilise opportunities made available by the service in the various learning and skill acquisition centres in the custodial centres to improve themselves and get fully reformed.”