Thirty one inmates of Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who sat for the 2014 Nov/Dec Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) were yesterday presented with their certificates by the representative of the Controller General of Prisons, DCP Musa Tanko.

Speaking at the occasion, DCP Tanko reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Prisons Service to humane confinement, reformation and rehabilitation of those in its custody, noting that assisting inmates to have access to educational opportunities at all levels is one notable way of keeping their hope of successful return to the larger society alive.

Tanko stated that Kuje Prison has continued to record impressive inmates’ participation in external examinations since the programme started in 2010, which has culminated in close to 41 of the prisoners taking up various degree programmes in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) special study centre in the prison.

He thanked NUGA BEST, a non-governmental organisation, for sponsoring the registration of the inmates in 2014 and called on other good spirited members of the society to support this laudable human development project in the prison, particularly in the areas of free lecture delivery, supply of relevant textbooks/learning aids and means to facilitate early registration of candidates in order to give life a new meaning for those in incarceration.

Statistics show that 38 prisoners sat for the examination, 31 results were released, while seven were withheld. Cumulatively, 67 distinctions, 94 credits, 73 passes and 41 failures were recorded.

*Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo show NPS