In a bold step towards rehabilitative reform, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in collaboration with Shammies Unusual Heart Foundation, on Thursday launched a National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) Examination Centre at the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, themed “Restoring Dignity Through Education and Second Chances,” saw 70 inmates officially registered for the 2025 NABTEB November/December examinations, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s prison education efforts.
Speaking at the unveiling, Deputy Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Training and Staff Development, Amoran Olarewaju — who represented Controller-General Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche — described the initiative as a critical investment in human capital behind bars.
“The importance of today’s milestone goes far beyond exams. It’s about creating a real pathway for inmates to return to society as educated, skilled individuals,” Olarewaju said. “We’re not just locking people up — we’re unlocking their potential.”
He applauded Shammies Foundation for its continued commitment to inmate education and called on other organisations to step forward and support vocational training and certification programs within custodial centres.
The project brings practical learning into focus, with inmates gaining access to resources such as laptops, textbooks, and trained facilitators — essential tools to prepare for both exams and life beyond prison walls.
READ ALSO: Ex-NHIS Boss Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Fraud
Ambassador Saratu Abdullahi, Executive Director of Shammies Unusual Heart Foundation, expressed heartfelt satisfaction over the successful launch.
“This is more than an event — it’s a movement. We’re building futures, restoring hope, and proving that no one is beyond redemption,” she said. “We’ve worked with correctional centres before, and we’re not stopping anytime soon.”
The Controller of Corrections for the FCT Command, Bosun Ajibogun, hailed the initiative as a “game changer,” particularly impressed by the immediate registration of inmates for national certification.
“I never thought I’d see something of this scale during my tenure,” he said. “Providing technical education and real qualifications is a powerful shift in how we approach rehabilitation.”
The new NABTEB Centre at Kuje is expected to serve as a model for similar projects nationwide, with plans already underway to replicate it at the Suleja Custodial Centre.