Twenty inmates at the Ikoyi correctional facility in Lagos state have expressed interest in taking the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which is set to take place on June 5.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesman in the state, Rotimi Oladokun, confirmed the news on Friday.
Despite the attempted jailbreak on the facility in 2020, Oladokun said the inmates would be properly prepared for the test.
During the #EndSARS protests last year, some inmates at the prison allegedly tried to set the facility on fire in order to flee.
The plot was thwarted, however, thanks to military, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps operatives intervening (NSCDC).
After going through many reform programs, more prisoners, according to Oladokun, expressed an interest in continuing their education.
According to him, a 60-year-old prisoner was among the 25 inmates who took part in the 2020 UTME at the correctional facility.
The new building, where the inmates would write the test, had reached 80% completion, according to the spokesman, and the computers and other required things would be repaired soon.
“Equally, the inmates have demonstrated commitment and focus to succeed.
Some teachers have agreed to tutor them in a variety of subjects as well as computer skills,” he said.
Oladokun praised Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola for the positive changes at NCoS.
He, on the other hand, requested more equipment to pique inmates’ interest in continuing their education.
“More equipment is required in the facility to allow us to accommodate more inmates who want to continue their education,” he added.
