The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Oyo State command, says 46 inmates sat the 2025/2026 NECO General Certificate Examination (GCE), which ended on Saturday.

The command’s public relations officer (PRO), SC Olanrewaju Anjorin, disclosed this to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.

Mr Anjorin said the conclusion of the examination, which commenced on November 26, marked a significant progress in the command’s educational rehabilitation mandate.

He said 21 inmates sat the examination at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, while 25 inmates had theirs at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abolongo, Oyo.

According to him, the Agodi facility, whose inmates have been sitting the examinations since 2018, maintains an impressive 85 per cent success rate in candidates obtaining five credits.

He said the credit grades include mathematics and English.

“This sustained performance demonstrates the effectiveness of the facility’s educational programme in preparing inmates for academic achievement and future opportunities.

“The 2025/2026 session marks a transformative milestone for the Abolongo facility, which received NECO approval as an examination centre earlier in 2025.

“The 25 participating inmates represent the inaugural cohort in what the command anticipates will become a sustained educational intervention, supporting long-term rehabilitation objectives,” Mr Anjorin said.

The spokesman said candidates at both facilities expressed profound gratitude for the educational opportunity, with many articulating clear post-release academic aspirations.

“Students interviewed during the programme reported diligent preparation and confidence in achieving success, emphasising that the examination provides tangible hope for continuing their education upon release,” he said.

The PRO said the command has prioritised securing approvals for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centres at both facilities as part of its 2026 strategic agenda.

He said this would enable inmates who, after completing the NECO GCE, still have to remain in custody due to longer sentences to pursue tertiary education.

“They will, by this, maximise the rehabilitation impact during their custodial period,” he said.

He said the command remained committed to expanding educational access within custodial facilities, aligning with the vision of the controller-general of corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche.

“This is after recognising education as a cornerstone of effective rehabilitation that transforms inmates into productive, law-abiding citizens, prepared for successful societal reintegration,” he said.

(NAN)