NECO to Designate Agodi Prison Examination Center… Prison Hosts Football Match

NECO to Designate Agodi Prison Examination Center… Prison Hosts Football Match

Inmates of Agodi Prison in Ibadan, Oyo State will soon be able to further their studies and have the same opportunity enjoyed by their counterparts outside of Prison who writes Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

This is as a result of the recent satisfaction of the Verification and Inspection Officials sent by National Examination Council (NECO) to Agodi Prison to determine Nigeria Prison Service readiness for approval of Examination Centre in the Prison Facility.

The Controller of Prisons Oyo State Command, Mr K O Yusuf in line with the Reformation and Reintegration agenda of the Nigeria Prison Service under the able leadership of the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed has earlier made a courtesy call to Zonal Office of the National Examination Council in Oyo State where he proposed and implored the Zonal Director of NECO to consider an examination centre in the facility. The Controller maintained that such gesture will not only make the inmates better people for themselves but also assets to be explored by the society as a whole.

The Inspection Officers who coincidentally met some of our students in class and felt very impressed assured the Controller of Prisons that submission of their report will be done swiftly and that he should be positive of the approval.

In another development, Agodi Prison held annual CP CUP in the Prison. Ward H1, the defending champion defeated M Ward by 2 goals to 1 after a highly contested display of skills by both sides on the football pitch.

The Controller of Prisons, Oyo State Command, Mr K O Yusuf who was very much on ground to witness the match and show his support to the inmates has earlier before the match charged them to engage more in sporting activities and concentrate their efforts in honing their skills which can be used when they leave the facility. He also advised them not to be too aggressive during the match and to show high level of good sportsmanship.

The competition which started 3 weeks ago saw 11 cells participating and contending vigorously. Each of the cells was also well appreciated by the Controller of Prisons who after presenting the Cup to the Champion team and medals presented to the highest goal scorer, most disciplined player and most valuable player also gave gifts to each player that participated in the tournament.

A non-profit organization, Spitfire, headed by Mr Julius Ujeh that has been a supporter of the Tournament from the onset including the donation of the jersey worn by the players and provision of 3 footballs were also present at the final match. Ujeh also promised to kit up 18 players of Agodi Prison with boots and Jerseys. He maintained that the intention is to reach all facilities across Nigeria.

Anjorin Olanrewaju (ASP 1)
Command PRO
Oyo State.