The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced the graduation of 62 inmates in Kano State who successfully completed their O’Level programs through the NCoS Continuing Education Programme. These inmates participated in the National Examination Council (NECO) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examinations while serving their sentences.

A special graduation ceremony was organized by the NCoS to honor the graduates. Ado Inuwa, the Controller of Corrections in Kano State, expressed his satisfaction with the academic performance of the inmates, highlighting that the program aligns with the NCoS Act 2019 and modern correctional practices. The initiative aims to provide inmates with opportunities to develop intellectual and vocational skills, facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into society as better citizens upon release.

Inuwa commended the Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for his support in enhancing inmate welfare and promoting productive engagement through education and vocational training. He also thanked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his support, which has enabled inmates to pursue education and access improved healthcare services within the correctional facilities. According to Inuwa, this support has led to many inmates achieving credit passes in subjects such as English Language and Mathematics.

Representing Governor Yusuf at the ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim Faruq, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the NCoS in advancing custodial education. Governor Yusuf expressed his satisfaction with the academic achievements and vocational skills attained by the graduates, encouraging them to remain hopeful for a brighter future and view their time in custody as a temporary phase.

Inuwa emphasized that the graduation is a testament to the resilience of the inmates and a sign that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda is taking root in correctional practices. He urged the graduates to be good ambassadors, focusing on improving inmate welfare.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, reported that between July and December 2024, the NCoS trained and rehabilitated 3,030 inmates across 256 custodial centers in various skills, including carpentry, tailoring, poultry, and hairdressing. Additionally, 50 inmates are pursuing academic programs at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Tunji-Ojo highlighted that correctional centers are now places of hope and transformation, where inmates can acquire skills and education to become useful members of society upon release. He also mentioned the operational e-library in Kuje Custodial Centre, which provides inmates with access to knowledge, and noted that over 5,000 offenders served non-custodial sentences during the same period.