52 Kano Inmates Sit NECO, NBAIS Exams in Major Rehabilitation Push

No fewer than 52 inmates in custodial centres across Kano State have begun sitting for the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examinations as part of efforts to promote rehabilitation through education.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Kano State, Musbahu Kofar-Nassarawa.

According to the statement, the candidates comprise 41 male inmates and 11 female inmates drawn from various custodial centres across the state.

Kofar-Nassarawa said the participation of the inmates reflects the Correctional Service's continued commitment to rehabilitation, reformation and successful reintegration by providing access to formal education and skills development programmes.

He said the Controller of Corrections in Kano State, Yusuf Ahmad-Lakpene, monitored the commencement of the examinations at designated centres and described the exercise as another milestone in the Service's correctional and rehabilitative mandate.

Ahmad-Lakpene urged the candidates to conduct themselves with discipline and integrity throughout the examination period.

According to him, education remains one of the most effective tools for transforming lives, reducing recidivism and preparing inmates for productive reintegration into society after serving their custodial terms.

The controller also commended Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for sponsoring the registration fees of the inmate-candidates.

He said the intervention demonstrates the state government's commitment to inclusive education and human capital development by extending educational opportunities to persons in custodial facilities.

Ahmad-Lakpene reaffirmed the Nigerian Correctional Service's resolve to expand educational programmes across custodial centres as part of its broader strategy to encourage learning, personal development and lasting behavioural change among inmates.