Reps Speaker Sponsors NABTEB, NECO Registration for 120 Inmates

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has sponsored the registration of 120 inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Capital Territory Command, for the 2026 National Business and Technical Examinations Board and National Examinations Council examinations. The initiative was announced in Abuja on Wednesday as part of activities marking Abbas’ 61st birthday, with the registration conducted at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje. According to the FCT Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the intervention is intended to ensure that incarceration does not prevent inmates from accessing education and developing skills that could support their reintegration into society. Abbas, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, David Igbe, said the latest registration was a continuation of his support for educational opportunities for people in correctional facilities. “Today we are registering another 120 inmates for this year’s NABTEB and NECO examinations,” the Speaker said, according to the statement issued by the NCoS FCT Public Relations Officer, DSC Ahmed Duza. He also commended the management and staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service for creating an environment that supports the education and rehabilitation of inmates. Education seen as part of rehabilitation The Controller of Corrections for the FCT Command, Christopher Jen, who represented the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, described education as an important component of the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. Jen thanked the Speaker for supporting the examination registration and for marking his birthday with the inmates. He also called for greater employment opportunities for people who complete correctional programmes, saying reformed inmates should be given opportunities to contribute to society after leaving custody. The command said it would continue to expand educational opportunities available to inmates while working with government agencies and other partners. A representative of the Deputy Controller-General responsible for Inmates Training and Productivity, SC Igomu Augustine, also commended the initiative. Igomu said Abbas had taken the lead in supporting the registration of inmates for NECO examinations across custodial centres. More than 2,000 inmates in educational programmes The Education Desk Officer of the FCT Command, DSC Adikwu Owoicho, disclosed that more than 2,000 inmates had been registered for various educational programmes within the command. He also said inmates who participated in the 2025 NABTEB and NECO examinations recorded encouraging performances. During Wednesday’s event, results from inmates who participated in the 2025 examinations were symbolically presented at the Kuje custodial centre. The event also included testimonies from some of the beneficiaries, birthday tributes, prayers and the cutting of Abbas’ 61st birthday cake. The 2026 intervention builds on a similar initiative by the Speaker in 2025. In October 2025, Abbas sponsored examination registration for 100 inmates, with 57 registered for NABTEB and 43 for NECO. That initiative was also carried out as part of activities marking his 60th birthday. NABTEB and NECO opportunities for inmates The latest sponsorship comes as Nigeria continues to expand access to formal and technical education within correctional facilities. NABTEB administers examinations leading to National Business Certificate and National Technical Certificate qualifications, among others. Its 2026 records show continued examination and certification activities, including the release of the June/July 2026 NBC and NTC results. For inmates, access to recognised examinations can provide an avenue to obtain qualifications while serving their sentences or awaiting the conclusion of their cases. The correctional authorities have increasingly placed emphasis on education, vocational training and other programmes designed to prepare inmates for eventual reintegration. The Federal Capital Territory Command's disclosure that more than 2,000 inmates have been registered for different educational programmes indicates that the latest sponsorship is part of a wider educational programme rather than an isolated examination exercise. For the 120 beneficiaries registered for the 2026 NABTEB and NECO examinations, the programme provides an opportunity to continue their education despite their incarceration. The initiative also places attention on the role of education in correctional rehabilitation, particularly as authorities seek to equip inmates with qualifications and skills that can be useful after release. As the beneficiaries prepare for their respective examinations, the Nigerian Correctional Service has reiterated its commitment to expanding educational opportunities across custodial centres, while acknowledging the support of individuals and organisations involved in inmate rehabilitation.