Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has paid the examination fees for candidates of the Onitsha Custodial Center of the Correctional Services, who sat for the General Certificate Examinations, GCE, and other Technical examinations of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB.
The governor made the payment in fulfillment of his promise to ensure that the inmates of the center leave it as better citizens than they joined.
Hitherto, without the support of very few individuals, inmates have found it extremely difficult to sit for such examinations, even as feeding and other infrastructure needs are major challenges.
Handing over the cheque of one million, two hundred and twenty naira, (N1, 220, 000), for the fifty-four candidates to the management of the Correctional Centre, Governor Soludo reiterated the vision of his government to ensure inclusive governance across all sectors of the state.
Soludo, who spoke through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh pointed out that the gesture was in keeping with his resolve to make better citizens out of the inmates after service.
He enjoined the beneficiaries to make maximum use is the opportunity provided to better their lots.
Addressing the inmates, he said; “life does not end with you coming to this place. However, what you make of your stay here is what is very important.
“That is why as a government we are providing this educational support to ensure that you are supported to continue to better your lives through education, even while you are still here.
“All we ask, is that you make the best use of this opportunity and ensure that you leave here better citizens.”
In his response, the Controller of Corrections, Anambra State Command, Usifo E, expressed appreciation to Governor Soludo for the material and financial donations to the Onitsha Custodial Center.