Inmates at three correctional facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Plateau, and Kaduna State have received books and other learning materials from the Centre for Gender, Health, and Social Rehabilitation and Nigeria Connect.
This was stated by Mr Humphrey Chukwuedo, Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT Command, on Wednesday.
According to Chukwuedo, the books and materials were handed over to the NCoS’s Controller General (CG), Mr Haliru Nababa, by representatives of the two US-based NGOs, Dr Ilesami Oluwatoyin.
He stated that the CG was represented by Ahmed Musa, the FCT Controller.
Oluwatoyin stated that the NGOs were moved to support the CG’s efforts to educate the inmates, adding that their impressive academic performances should be encouraged.
He urged the inmates to take advantage of the books and make good use of them, noting that reading was the key to success.
The controller general thanked the non-governmental organizations for the donation, saying that the books would boost inmates’ morale.
Nababa urged other non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations to support efforts to reform and rehabilitate inmates in order to create a better society.
Nababa stated that since 2010, when the Kuje Custodial Centre was upgraded to WAEC and NECO standard examination centers, 815 inmates have written their exams.
He went on to say that 750 of those inmates received five credits or higher in various subjects, including Mathematics and English.
“In addition, since the center’s inception, 82 students have enrolled in National Open University (NOUN) programs.”
“At the moment, 120 inmates are completing their WAEC and NECO exams, while 80 inmates are writing their NOUN exams at various levels,” he stated.