The Warri Correctional Center in Delta State has been approved for West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and equivalent examinations.
The Deputy Controller of Corrections, DCC, Warri Correctional Center, Mr Lucky Edo, disclosed this while on an official working visit to the chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Michael Tidi, at the Council’s Secretariat, Warri, Delta State.
“WAEC has given us partial approval for the inmates to be writing the West African School Certificate Examination and other equivalent board for the ordinary level examinations in the correctional centre,” he said.
He said classes has already begun and that soon WAEC would come and inspect their facilities.
Edo, who commended the Warri South Council Chairman for all his contribution to the wellbeing of the Warri Correctional Center, which he is a host, said as of that morning the center has 1004 inmates and the place is peaceful.
He also commended Dr Tidi for keeping Warri South Council Area peaceful, stressing that the council has beem relatively peaceful since he assumed office.
Responding, the very elated Warri South Council Boss, who placed premium on education, commended the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Edo, for the approval, saying that this will go a long way in insuring that inmates in the Correctional Center has access to education.
Tidi said as citizens of the country, the inmate deserves to pursue education like other citizens.
While urging Mr Edo to keep up the good work, he also commended him for the various skills acquisition centers in the facility, saying the skills acquired by the inmates would make it easy for them to contribute to the development of the society when they are finally reintegrated into the society.
“What amazes me is the skill acquisition centers you have provided for the inmate where you engage them in various extra curricular activities. Please try as much as possible to sustain this. I was there during the last sports tournament that was organized there and I was surprised that they still have such skills that they displayed that day.
“The inmates there are part and parcel of our society. This is why I always applauded those that changed the name from prison to correctional center because that place is to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate people back to the society.
“God gives everybody a second chance, so I believe that those who have comes out from those correctional centers must have acquired some skills that they will use to contribute meaningfully to the society.
“I want to assure you that we will do all wet can to make your job seamless,” Tidi said.
On issues of security, the Warri South Council Chairman said, his administration have always been taking proactive steps towards ensuring that they nip criminal activities in the bud even before they occur.
“Like you rightly highlighted, Warri has been relatively peaceful. Your officers can attest to this because we don’t just rest, we work regularly.
“We hold regular security meetings where we look at every issue that concerns the local government, be it economical, social and even spiritual. I can tell you that the CAN chairman and even the Muslim community are part of our security meetings.
“We believe that fighting crime has gone beyond going after those that commit crime. We should prevent them because that’s the ways it’s supposed to be. So we are been proactive in Warri South here when it comes to security issues.
“I must also say thank you for your kind words about our Administration.
On the economic activities in the council, Tidi said he is delighted to see that small and medium scale enterprises have began to spring up in the nook and cranny of the council.
“Being a youth, I have taken it upon myself to be awake when others are sleeping because I believe that if I represent them well there will be room for other youths to be incorporated into the government. So that’s why we are here working tirelessly to see that Warri South Local Government Area remains peaceful.
“What agitates our mind often is to see how commerce, the economic life of the people will come back to life.
“So seeing the medium and small scale enterprises spring up everywhere gives us joy. On Saturday here, I was privileged to be part of the opening of a food outlet here in Warri and my joy knew no bounds. The reason being that the Warri we used to know used to be the beehive of economic activities. But unfortunately, the avoidable Warri crisis spoiled everything,” Tidi said.
