Report has it that about 102 inmates of the Ikoyi prisons, Lagos sat for the November/December West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. 48 of them were said to have made outstanding results.
The successful inmates as was gathered have also registered for the Computer-Based Test of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, which will commence from May 17. They will use the prison hall as their centre.
In the words of Imoh Felix, an inmate and a successful candidate “I decided to add value to myself, after whatever life has thrown at me. The ambition to further my education too is a strong drive to study hard for that WAEC exams. I completed my secondary education at Agidingbi Grammar School, Ikeja and was resident at Omole Estate, before circumstances brought me here.”
The Ikoyi Prisons, off Polo Road, Lagos, is said to have received accreditation from WAEC as a centre and a school has been established in the prison to coach the inmates.
According to the principal, the school is a voluntary school, and there are two classes – the beginners’ class and the examination class. He also said that the school is being financed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). And is currently in need of textbooks for the library, computer sets, and printers.
Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele, has called on the state government to grant amnesty to some of the inmates who have done well at the WAEC exams, saying it is a demonstration of character and hard work.
About 60 inmates of the prisons are said to be preparing for the next November/ December WAEC examinations in the school.
