Abuja: Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, has marked his 60th birthday with inmates of the Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja, where he flagged off the registration of 100 inmates for the 2025 NABTEB and NECO examinations. Speaking during the celebration, Abbas said that he chose to celebrate with inmates as a demonstration of compassion. This, he said, included inclusive governance and his belief that every Nigerian, regardless of circumstance, deserved the opportunity to hope, learn and rebuild.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Umar Abubakar, in Abuja, stated that Abbas was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Chamberlain Dunku. ‘Out of the 100 inmates, 57 were registered for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) while 43 were enrolled for the National Examinations Council (NECO),’ he said. Abbas said that the initiative underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to prioritize rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates through education, skill acquisition, and personal development. He noted that education remained the strongest tool for transforming lives and preventing recidivism.
In his remarks, the Controller General, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, represented by the Deputy Controller General (DCG) in charge of Training and Staff Development, Mr. Olarewaju Amoran, hailed the Speaker’s historic choice of venue for his birthday. The CG described the celebration inside the custodial facility as a beacon of hope for inmates and a reminder that correctional facilities should be seen as centres of reformation, not neglect.
Similarly, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Mr. Peter Gen, described the event as historic and deeply symbolic. Gen said that the presence of the Speaker’s Special Assistants and staff at the custodial centre was a powerful demonstration of humanity and a validation of the Service’s ongoing reform agenda. The event featured goodwill messages, songs, and prayers for the Speaker’s health and wisdom.