Category: Nigerian Tribune

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria has appointed Mr S.D. Kum as its new Head of National Office (HNO).

His appointment takes effect on Friday, 2 October 2026.

Until his appointment, Mr Kum served as the Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of Test Administration at WAEC Nigeria.

He succeeds Dr Amos Dangut, who was appointed Registrar of WAEC International in mid-June this year.

Dr Dangut, who served for nearly three years as the HNO of WAEC Nigeria and is now set to lead the council at the regional level, will also officially assume his new role on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the council’s international headquarters in Accra, Ghana.

Mr Kum steps into his new leadership role with extensive operational and field experience gathered across various Nigerian geopolitical zones.

He previously served as WAEC Branch Controller and Zonal Coordinator for several regional offices, notably overseeing operations in places including Rivers State.

While serving as Zonal Coordinator, Mr Kum was reported to have been the primary enforcer of the Nigeria Examinations Committee’s (NEC) anti-malpractice directives.

He gained significant prominence in 2022 when he officially issued de-recognition letters to 35 secondary schools in Rivers State indicted for mass cheating and examination malpractice.

Throughout his career, he has frequently collaborated with state ministries of education, secondary school principals and civil security outfits to design effective examination timetables, ensure smooth coordination and maintain secure testing environments.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the development of a framework to allow research and endowment funds belonging to universities to be moved from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to commercial banks of their choice to improve access to the funds and strengthen universities’ capacity to mobilise alternative sources of funding.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, said this at the National Advancement Forum 2026, explaining that the move was part of efforts by the Federal Government to give universities greater flexibility in managing funds raised through research grants, endowments and other non-government sources.

He explained that some research and endowment funds were transferred into the TSA before the Tinubu administration, creating difficulties for universities in accessing and utilising the resources.

He said the policy was, therefore, designed to provide universities with greater flexibility and improve confidence in the management and deployment of such funds.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met you halfway. He has given you the leverage and the opportunity to do your jobs well. You must now take advantage of it,’ Alausa told vice-chancellors at the forum.

The minister, however, lamented that many universities had yet to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the administration to diversify their funding sources.

He disclosed that only four of the 68 federal universities were currently making meaningful use of alternative funding opportunities, including research grants, endowments, alumni donations, philanthropy and partnerships with industries.

Alausa described the situation as unacceptable, urging vice-chancellors to make resource mobilisation a central responsibility of their administrations.

‘Government funding is not enough. Universities live, function and excel on blended funding,’ he said.

The minister said universities globally had developed sustainable funding systems by cultivating relationships with alumni, businesses, philanthropists, research funders and other strategic partners to finance laboratories, scholarships, research chairs, innovation programmes and other institutional needs.

He urged Nigerian universities to adopt similar approaches, stressing that their intellectual capital could be deployed to attract substantial resources from the private sector and other funding partners.

Alausa also clarified that the Federal Government was not withdrawing financial support from tertiary institutions, noting that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated commitment to the sector through increased budgetary allocations, infrastructure investments and other interventions.

He said the Federal Government currently bears personnel costs in full, while universities retain 75 per cent of their internally generated revenue and continue to benefit from interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFund].

‘These provide a strong foundation,’ he said, adding that universities must build on the foundation by developing diversified, sustainable and resilient financing systems.

As part of the new approach to resource mobilisation, Alausa directed that Advancement Offices in all universities should report directly to Vice-Chancellors rather than Registrars.

He also directed that Directors of Advancement should have a minimum five-year internal tenure, renewable where appropriate, to enable them to build and sustain long-term relationships with donors, alumni, industries and philanthropic organisations.

‘Advancement Office operation is a professional job,’ the minister said, describing advancement officers as professional fundraisers who require stability, institutional backing and the confidence of university management.

He further challenged universities to overhaul their alumni engagement systems by developing functional databases and deploying technology to maintain lifelong relationships with graduates in Nigeria and abroad.

According to him, properly managed alumni networks could become dependable sources of long-term institutional support.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Nigerian Higher Education Foundation [NHF], would develop a comprehensive national framework for sustainable financing of tertiary institutions.

He said the framework would cover endowment governance, accountability, research grants, Advancement Office structures, alumni giving, industry partnerships, philanthropy incentives, revenue management and transparency.

Alausa warned that universities that failed to broaden their funding base could face difficulties sustaining growth, research and academic excellence.

Nigeria’s sporting story is not defined only by the trophies that slipped away or the major tournaments the country failed to reach.

For 66 years, Nigerian athletes and teams have also produced some historic sporting moments that have brought the country international recognition, broken records and created memories that have endured across generations.

Football has provided some of the biggest celebrations, from the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumphs to the Dream Team’s Olympic gold, but the country’s sporting achievements stretch far beyond the pitch.

From Atlanta to Oregon, from the Paralympic Games to the Commonwealth stage, Nigerian athletes have repeatedly shown that the country’s sporting talent extends across several disciplines.

Here are six historic sporting moments that stand out.

Atlanta 1996: The Dream Team and Ajunwa

The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta remain one of the defining moments in Nigerian sports history.

The country’s football team won gold in the men’s tournament after one of the most memorable runs in Olympic football.

The Dream Team came from behind to defeat Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final after extra time before overcoming Argentina 3-2 in the final.

The victory made Nigeria the first African country to win Olympic gold in men’s football.

The team featured several players who would go on to become major figures in Nigerian football, including Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Amunike.

Atlanta also produced another historic moment for Nigeria.

Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the women’s long jump, becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Her leap of 7.12m secured the title and added another landmark to an unforgettable Games for Nigeria.

The two achievements made Atlanta 1996 much more than a football story.

The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) has expressed concern about accusations that it owns a militia group and collaborates with security agencies to unleash mayhem on the Fulani, claiming that the allegations are false, unfounded, and an intentional attempt to tarnish the image of those who have been victims of Fulani terrorist attacks

Deacon Bulus Dabit, the Association’s National President, dismissed the allegations, saying: ‘Allegations of collaboration with DSS against Fulani in our land are unfounded; this is unacceptable to us because DSS is a security force working within the land. We are not the ones engaging the bandits; they are. It was a baseless allegation, and I am challenging them to come forward and substantiate it’.

He also refuted the Fulani’s claim that they were being monitored by drones, saying that the drones seen could be from security agencies monitoring vulnerable communities in the area.

‘We do not use drones; I’d like to believe they mistook military drones for private ones. So when they see drones, they should know it’s the security agencies working.

‘The claim that we have a militia group is a figment of their imagination and a deliberate attempt to tarnish our image. We have always maintained that our people will defend themselves whenever necessary, as it is our constitutional right. And we don’t need to have a militia to accomplish this. So we don’t need an organized militia to protect ourselves. It is completely wrong to portray us as a militia in this way,’ he said.

Deacon Dabit, who claimed that at least 750 natives from the Mangu local government area alone had been killed between January and the present, stated that the figure was not exaggerated because those killed were frequently buried in public.

He challenged the Fulani group, which claimed they were being killed by natives, to provide proof.

The MDA National President stated that the primary motives of the attackers on the prowl were land grabbing and displacing natives from their ancestral land, threatening that such actions would be strongly opposed.

The Directors-General of Agencies and Parastatals of Government (MDAs) on Wednesday kicked against the composition of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC).

The DGs expressed concern over their exclusion at a meeting with the ruling party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

The Director-General of National Board of Technology Innovation, Dr Kazeem Raji, led his colleagues to the meeting under the platform, Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals.

The Forum, which recalled that they played a strategic role in galvanising support for President Bola Tinubu in the last general elections, told Professor Yilwatda that they have since been sidelined ahead of the next January Presidential election.

The Director-General, National Institute of Cultural Orientation, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who described the forum as Independent Campaign Council, maintained that they have been left in the cold in the composition of the PCC that would drive the campaigns of President Tinubu.

Chief Ajiboye noted that the PCC ‘needs a supplementary and complementary platform to mobilise in media management and election management. That’s what we are here to offer you, and we think we can work together.’

Earlier in his presentation, Dr Raji, who is the Forum Chairman, described it as a composition of core politicians with capacity for grassroots mobilisation.

‘Yes, we are technocrats but grassroots politicians. We are professionals in politics. We are public sector leaders who are passionate about Nigeria’s development,’ Raji said.

He declared that his group will deliver 10 million votes to Tinubu.

Professor Yilwatda tasked members of the Forum to ensure a fresh mandate for President Tinubu to justify their individual appointments.

He said: ‘For every one of us serving in public office today, there are countless other Nigerians who possess the qualifications and competence to occupy the same positions. The opportunity we have today is therefore a privilege, and we must justify that privilege through service, performance and loyalty to the mandate entrusted to us.’

To sell Tinubu to Nigerian electorate, the APC Chairman urged them to communicate his achievements to Nigerians.

‘That is why forums such as yours are important. Through your agencies, you are implementing programmes that directly impact citizens. You understand the projects, the policies and the outcomes. You therefore have a responsibility to help bridge the information gap between government and the people,’ he added.

Experts have raised concerns over the simultaneous use of sildenafil citrate, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, and popular herbal alcoholic bitters, after researchers observed significant changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone markers in male laboratory rats.

The study, published in the West African Journal of Pharmacy, examined the effects of sildenafil citrate administered alongside three herbal bitters – Orijin, Action and Coco Samba – amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters.

There has been a shift in the consumption of beer towards alcoholic bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs and are widely used in Nigeria because of their various acclaimed health benefits.

Users of bitters often believe that the herbal preparations contain substances that cleanse the body, have anti-malarial and anti-diabetic properties, boost male virility, lower cholesterol levels and are non-toxic to the kidneys.

Erectile dysfunction has also been reported to be increasingly common among young men in Nigeria. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is one of the approved orthodox medicines used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

With the widespread acceptance of alcoholic bitters for their purported health and aphrodisiac benefits, men experiencing erectile dysfunction may combine herbal alcoholic bitters with sildenafil citrate.

In the study, the researchers found significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone across the experimental groups compared with the control group, indicating possible changes in liver, kidney and reproductive hormone function.

Elevated levels of ALT and AST can be associated with liver-cell injury or stress, although they are not specific to a particular cause. Increased urea and creatinine levels may indicate changes in kidney function, while LH is involved in signalling to the testes and testosterone is the principal male sex hormone.

The study, titled ‘Effect of concomitant administration of sildenafil citrate and selected herbal bitters on sex hormones and some biochemical indices in Wistar rats,’ was conducted by researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Babcock University in Ogun State. It was in West African Journal of Pharmacy.

The researchers used 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing between 115gm and 125gm. Following five days of acclimatisation, the animals were randomly divided into eight groups of five.

One group served as the control, while another received sildenafil citrate. Three groups received Orijin, Action or Coco Samba bitters, respectively, while the remaining three groups received sildenafil citrate in combination with each of the three bitters.

The substances were administered orally for 42 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and analysed for markers associated with liver and kidney function, as well as testosterone and LH levels.

The researchers reported statistically significant differences in AST and ALT between the experimental animals and the control group.

According to the researchers, the elevation of AST and ALT in animals exposed to sildenafil, herbal bitters and their combinations could indicate liver injury.

The study also found significant differences in serum urea levels between the experimental groups and the control group.

The researchers reported a significant increase in creatinine, particularly among the animals that received Coco Samba alone and those that received Coco Samba together with sildenafil citrate.

They said the higher urea and creatinine levels could reflect impaired kidney function. They further described Coco Samba as having a potentially greater toxic effect on the kidneys than the other polyherbal formulations investigated.

However, the researchers acknowledged that increased urea levels can have other explanations, including dehydration and alcohol consumption.

Beyond the organ-function markers, the researchers observed significant increases in testosterone and LH among the experimental animals.

They suggested that increased LH could contribute to increased testosterone production and said the observed hormonal changes could be related to the combined effects of sildenafil and the phytochemical components of the herbal bitters.

Traditional herbal bitters, which are rich blends of medicinal roots and herbs, have been widely used in Nigeria because of their various claimed benefits.

Most herbal alcoholic bitters are also marketed with claims of improved sexual performance and stronger erections. Despite these claims and their widespread consumption, however, limited research has examined their safety and their purported effects on erectile function, particularly when used alongside conventional medicines.

Amid the widespread use of herbal preparations and alcoholic bitters, including products marketed with claims relating to sexual performance and male virility, awareness of the possible consequences of concomitant use of sildenafil citrate and herbal bitters remains limited.

The researchers noted that herbal medicines are often self-prescribed and may be taken alongside conventional medicines without healthcare professionals necessarily being informed about their use.

They further noted that herbal alcoholic bitters are marketed with various claims, including improving sexual performance, while limited research was available on their safety and claims concerning erectile function.

The research was conducted on Wistar rats, not human beings. Its findings therefore cannot by themselves establish that people who combine sildenafil with the herbal bitters will experience the same biochemical changes.

The study nevertheless provides experimental evidence of measurable biochemical and hormonal changes following concurrent exposure to sildenafil and the products investigated.

The researchers said the findings suggested possible effects on liver and kidney functions in the animals studied.

The findings underscore the importance of further investigation into the simultaneous use of prescription medicines and herbal alcoholic preparations, particularly products consumed for sexual-performance purposes.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, met with selected electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) on how to provide uninterrupted electricity in high-demand corridors in some parts of the country.

The meeting, attended by the leadership of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group, discussed the proposed energy Zones initiative designed to provide stable 24-hour power supply to homes, businesses and industries in the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna- Kano corridor and Enugu -Port Harcourt corridor.

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the challenge in the power sector is not limited to only generation and transmission but also to the capacity to take up and deliver power at the distribution end.

While expressing the government’s commitment to build up infrastructure in high-demand areas to ensure supply keeps pace with estimated demand in our growing economy, the minister stated that the proposed energy zones are meant to close that gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand as well as strengthen DisCo revenue and collections.

Tegbe added that the engagement aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identified reliable energy as critical to economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called for urgent reforms in the university system, saying the state of higher education warrants sober reflection rather than celebration.

In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, CONUA National President, Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu said that although Nigerian universities had expanded in number and access, the system remained below the standards the country should aspire to achieve.

Sunmonu recalled the early 1970s, when Nigerian universities, despite being few in number, competed favourably with leading global institutions in teaching, scholarship, and research.

However, he said the decline that became evident in the late 1970s had yet to be reversed, adding that the expansion of universities had not been matched by comparable improvements in quality, infrastructure, research capacity and global competitiveness.

‘We cannot celebrate yet,’ the CONUA president stated.

To address the challenges, Sunmonu called for deliberate, sustained and long-term reforms, beginning with improved and sustainable funding.

He said universities could not deliver quality education without adequately equipped laboratories, modern equipment, functional digital infrastructure and sufficient research funding.

He urged the government to provide predictable funding and ensure that resources were channelled into functional facilities, research support and conducive learning environments.

He stressed that ‘quality assurance must be matched by quality funding.’

The union also called on the government to rebuild confidence in industrial relations within the university system.

Sunmonu said all duly registered unions should have fair and effective platforms for engagement, while negotiated agreements should be concluded and implemented within clearly defined timelines.

He cited the delay in concluding and signing CONUA’s negotiated agreement as an example of the need for a more predictable and inclusive framework for industrial relations.

‘A stable university system should not depend on which union can exert the greatest pressure,’ Sunmonu said.

On staff welfare, the CONUA president demanded fairness over three-and-a-half months of salaries withheld from his members following the 2022 industrial dispute.

He maintained that CONUA members neither declared nor participated in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike but had yet to receive the outstanding salaries.

According to him, resolving the matter would address a legitimate welfare concern and reinforce the principle that workers should not suffer the consequences of industrial action in which they did not participate.

CONUA also called for increased investment in research and innovation through better funding, modern specialised facilities and stronger partnerships among universities, industries and government.

The union stressed that university governance, including the administration of inter-university centres, should be based on merit, transparency, competence, academic leadership and relevant enabling laws.

It further called for sustained attention to staff welfare and career progression, noting that delays in promotions, allowances, and other entitlements continued to affect staff morale and productivity.

Sunmonu said Nigeria needed to move away from short-term crisis management and embrace long-term reforms capable of rebuilding the university system.

He said the goal should go beyond preventing strikes and resolving salary disputes to creating a university system that was adequately funded, properly governed, research-driven, technologically relevant and globally competitive.

CONUA described the 66th Independence Anniversary as an opportunity for honest assessment and renewed commitment rather than self-congratulation.

‘Nigeria once demonstrated that a relatively small university system could compete with the best in the world. Restoring that capacity requires deliberate policy, sustained investment, institutional integrity, equitable engagement, and faithful implementation of agreements,’ Sunmonu said.

He concluded, ‘There is much to rebuild. We cannot celebrate yet; but we can begin, deliberately and sustainably, to restore the Nigerian university to the level of excellence it once demonstrated.’

Residential homes and farmlands have been destroyed by heavy flooding in at least five agrarian communities in Lafiagi, in the Edu local government area of Kwara.

The Tribune gathered that the incident followed a heavy downpour on Tuesday and affected communities include Pututa, Tswako, Likpata, Godangi, and Ekko, all within Lafiagi Ward 4.

It was gathered that no lives were lost in the flooding incident; however, property and rice farms were reportedly washed away, and a source of drinking water was also destroyed.

Speaking when he paid a sympathy visit to Pututa and other agrarian communities in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area, that were ravaged by the flood, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the recurring incident as unfortunate.

The governor identified dredging of the River Niger as a lasting solution to flooding in the area and promised to continue to push for a lasting solution.

‘The purpose of this visit is to come and commiserate with the communities over the flood incident and to see how we can bring succour to the affected communities,’ the Governor said at the Palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, HRH Alhaji Muhammed Kudu Kawu.

‘It is a bad situation, we are glad that no life was lost, though a lot of properties were destroyed. The dredging of River Niger is beyond the state but we will continue to engage federal agencies like the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Inland Waterways, HYPADEC and other federal agencies for their support.’

Earlier in Pututa, the Governor told the head of Pututa (Lashan Pututa), Alhaji Muhammed Manko Ibrahim, that the government is working hard to fix their challenge.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to visit the place and take inventory of their losses for adequate government support.

He also gave them a sum of N10 million to provide for their immediate needs, including medical, food, and drinking water.

The Governor thanked the people of Kwara North, including the Lafiagi Emirate, for supporting his government.

AbdulRazaq also visited the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, and Lafiagi Stadium under reconstruction, with the promise to intensify efforts for the upgrade of the former to Federal University of Education.

He said the government will look into the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market, Lafiagi, which was earlier closed for security reasons.

The Governor also justified the zoning of the governorship ticket to Kwara North, saying the motive was to expedite development in the region.

‘On a final note, the push of this administration is that wherever a leader comes from, it brings more development to that area. It is a natural thing,’ he said at the Emir’s Palace.

‘For Kwara North to feel greater impacts, our administration has decided to make sure that the next Governor of Kwara State comes from Kwara North.’

Speaking on behalf of the Emir, the Somasun of Lafiagi, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, appreciated the Governor for the visit and for the developmental projects by his government.

He specifically thanked the government for donating a Coaster Bus to the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, to ease the mobility of staff.

He appealed for the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market to improve commercial activities and grow their economy.

Lashan Pututa, Alhaji Ibrahim, for his part, said the Governor’s visit further demonstrates his leadership qualities and a commitment to the well-being of people of the community.

He commended AbdulRazaq for providing them with good leadership and appealed to his government to assist in putting an end to their challenge.

‘There have been governors in Kwara state, both military and elected ones like Your Excellency.

What we have witnessed during your time is unique. We have not had it so good as you have done for us,’ he said.

‘This is Lafiagi Ward 4; we have about 31 villages within the ward, all in the riverine area. We are just one single ward, but our votes count even more than some local governments in the state.

‘Since we have been practicing politics along with other people, we have not had a governor who would be stepping into our ward like you. You have been coming to this ward as if you were born here. Your contributions to our community are enormous. We will reciprocate this kind gesture with our vote in 2027.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has sponsored 120 inmates of the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Kuje, of the Nigerian Correctional Service for the National Examination Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations.

The philanthropic gesture by the Speaker, which held at the facility, was part of the activities marking his 61st birthday on Thursday.

This is just as inmates who benefitted from Speaker Tajudeen’s scholarships last year and scored distinctions in their exams commended him for identifying with them.

A team from the Speaker’s Office, which delivered the message to the inmates through the management of the correctional centre, noted that the ceremony was special to the Speaker, hence the gesture.

‘I leave you with three words: Believe. Learn. Rebuild. Believe that your future can be better. Learn everything that can make you a better person. And when the opportunity comes, rebuild your life and make a positive contribution to society,’ the Speaker noted.

The highlight of the event was the announcement that the Speaker would register 120 inmates for this year’s NABTEB and NECO examinations in continuation of his commitment to ensuring that incarceration does not become a barrier to education, personal development, and the opportunity to build a better future.

‘Let this occasion remind us that no human being should be defined only by his worst moment,’

his message, delivered by the Special Assistant on Humanitarian Affairs, David Igbe Okponya, read further.

He enjoined the inmates not to see their present circumstance as their final destination, noting that ‘whatever brought you here is part of your history, but it does not have to define the rest of your life.

‘Use your time here wisely. Read, study, learn a trade, acquire a skill, and build your character. When the opportunity comes for you to return to your communities, return prepared to contribute positively to your families and to Nigeria.’

There were also testimonies by previous beneficiaries as well as the cutting of the birthday cake with the inmates.

An inmate simply identified as Adeolu, who benefited from the examination sponsorship last year, said ‘a big thank you’ to the Speaker, whom he described as ‘the foundation builder-that is what we call him in here.’

Another former beneficiary simply identified as Chikwendu gave his testimony of how he switched from science to art, sat for the NECO examination sponsored by Speaker Abbas and got seven distinctions.

He said: ‘Last year, you were here to plant a seed. I want you to know that, that seed has germinated. We are indebted to our father, the Right Honourable Speaker.’

The Education Desk Officer, DSC Adikwu Owoicho, in his overview, disclosed that over 2,000 inmates have been registered for various educational programmes in the FCT Command, with those registered in 2025 recording encouraging performance in both NABTEB and NECO examinations.

‘The Speaker is taking the lead in the number of NECO and NABTEB registration sponsorships nationwide. The NGOs are doing their best, but the Speaker is taking the lead,’ he said.

Earlier, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Peter Jen, who represented the Comptroller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, in his welcome address, commended the Speaker complementing the efforts of the NCoS to empower inmates as part of its reformatory efforts.

The CGC described education as a critical pillar of the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration mandate of the Service. He also advocated for employment opportunities for reformed inmates, noting that they have been reformed and are ready to contribute meaningfully to national development.

In his remarks, the representative of the Deputy Controller General in-charge of Inmates Training and Productivity (ITP), SC Igomu Augustine, appreciated the organizers for remembering the inmates and for supporting the Service to make inmates productive and useful upon re-entry into the society, adding that the Speaker is taking the lead in the registration of inmates for NECO examinations across custodial centres.