( Inmates Sit for BECE. Photo by Daily Post)
The Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kamarudeen Adesina, has disclosed that 74 inmates of the Old Ibara Custodian Centre are currently sitting for various examinations inside the facility.
Adesina noted that 32 are presently sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), while 42 are currently writing their final Diploma, Bachelor of Arts and Masters examination in Theology.
The Controller, who spoke with newsmen on Wednesday, thanked the Federal Government for its effort so far and the Ogun State Government for approving the examination centre at the Ibara Custodian Centre.
He called for a more conducive learning environment and the provision of equipment for inmates pursuing education, noting that despite government efforts, correctional facilities in the state are still battling several challenges.
“We are still faced with a lot of challenges. On logistics, majority of our vehicles are not in good condition. So we are pleading to the state government, individuals and non-governmental organisations to help us,” he said.
He added that water supply was also inadequate as the existing borehole could not meet demand with the rising inmate population, noting that the situation was the same at other centres such as Ilaro, Oba, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode.
The Controller lamented that Ogun State remains the second most congested in the country, with over 4,000 inmates across all custodian centres.
“In this state we are locking over 4,000 inmates, for which ordinarily we are not supposed to have up to that. In the whole country, Ogun State is the second highest.
So definitely all our custodian centres are overcrowded,” he stated, commending the state government for the release of 81 inmates on amnesty during the June 12 celebration.
Also speaking, Assistant Controller of Corrections and Officer in Charge of the Ibara Custodian Centre, Raji Adisa, said the inmates sitting for the ongoing examinations have been well behaved and are making good use of the opportunity, adding that none was caught for examination malpractice.
Adisa cited Section 4 of the 2019 Nigerian Correctional Service Act, noting that the provision is meant to enable inmates become useful to themselves and society at large.
He added that inmates are counselled on various training and educational programmes available at the centre, but participation remains voluntary.
In his remarks, the Dean of Studies, West Africa College for Christian Mission in affiliation with Freedom University, USA, Dr Philip Ishola, noted that out of the 42 inmates, 28 are for Bachelor of Arts in Theology, seven for Diploma, and the remaining seven for Masters programmes.
Ishola appreciated the Federal Government for still considering inmates as citizens of the country, asserting that many of them have shown remarkable change in character since enrolling for academic programmes.
The Dean, however, called for more support and appreciated God for the transition from “prison” to “correctional centre,” saying rehabilitation is taking place and inmates are now more peaceful with one another unlike in the past.
One of the Bachelor of Arts in Theology students, who has been at the Ibara Custodian Centre since 2019, said the education programme has helped him rebuild his life.
The inmate, who on Wednesday sat for two papers, “Spiritual Warfare” and “Comparative Religion,” appealed to the government to show mercy to inmates, assuring the Correctional Service that the investment in them would not be wasted.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the correctional services, Olayinka Odukoya, noted that over 70 percent improvement in inmate reformation has been recorded through education and vocational training, urging the public to give the inmates a second chance on reintegration into society.