Nation
NCS Empowers 119 Inmates In Gombe
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Gombe State Command, says about 119 inmates in two custodial centres in the state have undergone vocational skills training.
The state controller of NCS, Mohammed Sharu, said yesterday in an interview with The Tide source that the nine-month training was part of efforts to reform inmates.
Sharu said the command only trained those that were convicted from two years upward so that “they will not go back to criminality when they return to the society.”
According to him, Gombe State has embarked on several skills acquisition trainings for inmates in block making, carpentry, plumbing, soap making, bag making, aluminum pot making, tailoring and electrical installation.
“In Billiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, there are 89 inmates that will graduate soon, while in Gombe facility, 30 have graduated and have been discharged.
“We are now making efforts with the state and the local governments to assist them with starter packs for them to practice the skills acquired,” said Sharu.
The correctional boss stated that the emphasis on vocational skills programme was in accordance with the mandate of the service to reform the minds of inmates as well as empower them, and also discourage them from drug use.
He said it was worrisome that most of the inmates in the five facilities in the state were youths between the ages of 21 and 30, and that 90 per cent of them were drug addicts.
“Most youths when they bring them to our centres, they are not in their senses. Some will spend two days and don’t know where they are and after three days they realise they are in our facilities.
“Based on our interviews with them, over 90 per cent are on drugs; any form of drug they see they take and this is of serious concern to us and it is painful,” he said.
In order to address the challenge of drug addiction, Sharu said his command was partnering the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to rehabilitate inmates through counseling.
He added that his command was paying a lot of attention to the reformation of minds to ensure that what sent them to their facilities was addressed before they finished serving their sentences.
“The new correctional act is laying more emphasis on reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates; that is the act is now paying attention to the reformatory acts of imprisonment than the punitive aspect,” he said.
He commended the Federal Government for supporting the centres in the effort to ensure that youths are given the needed skills and training to become better citizens.
While stressing that the Gombe State government recently visited the Gombe Custodial Centre to assess the skills acquisition centre, Saru called for the support of the government towards the expansion of the centre.
The correctional boss advised youths to “forget about drugs if you want to make impact in life; drugs will lead you to crime and I am telling you there is no gain in crime.”
Our correspondent reports that as at Tuesday, there are 1, 260 inmates in the five custodial centres in Gombe, Tula, Billiri, Cham and Bajoga facilities with 697 inmates awaiting trials.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
