The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education by partnering with the Nigeria Correctional Service and other relevant stakeholders to support the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates through education and skill development.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, stated this while addressing a delegation of Correctional Officers from the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Oyo State Command, who visited his office to receive textbooks for various subjects for inmates preparing for the WAEC (Private) November/December 2025 examinations.
Hon. Olayiwola said that the gesture was aimed at giving inmates a second chance in life by encouraging them to pursue education, acquire knowledge, and reintegrate successfully into society after their release.
“Gone are the days when inmates were only engaged in manual labour. Today, they are being empowered through vocational and academic training that can help them gain admission into higher institutions after their release.
“Education transforms lives, and we believe this effort will produce responsible and productive citizens,”
he said.
The Commissioner also pledged continued government support, promising more textbook donations and partnerships that would sustain educational programmes within correctional facilities.
He commended the Correctional Service for its innovation, dedication, and efforts in giving inmates renewed hope for a better future.
In his remarks, the Comptroller of Corrections, Dare Ayoola Opadeji, who was represented by the Superintendent of Corrections and State Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Anjorin, described the ministry’s gesture as “a pleasant surprise and a landmark act of compassion.”
CC Opadeji appreciated the state government’s efforts, noting that since 2017, the Agodi Correctional Facility has operated a NECO GCE Centre, with an average of 30 to 35 inmates sitting for the examination annually.
He assured that the textbooks would be put to effective use and promised to update the ministry on the inmates’ academic progress.
“This initiative reflects the kind of collaboration and example we need in our society, especially at a time when public confidence in government institutions needs to be rebuilt,”
he added.
