The Lagos Prisons Command has said a sum of 157 detainees over the penitentiaries in the state have enlisted for the up and coming second arrangement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private competitors while two others are as of now seeking after their PhDs at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

The Controller of Prisons, Lagos Command, Mr Tunde Ladipo, who revealed this in a meeting with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Monday in Lagos, said there is a reestablished enthusiasm for training among the detainees over the different jails in the state.

He said that the advance and strength shown by the two PhD detainees at the most extreme jail had started off another enthusiasm for scholastic interest among different prisoners.

“The command is committed in ensuring that no inmate is left behind in terms of education, as this is part of the reformation we are carrying out.

“Sometime around May or June, two of the inmates who have acquired their Masters degrees enrolled for their PhD in the newly established National Open University of Nigeria centre at the Kirikiri facility.

“One of the inmates is studying Business Management and the other, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the Vice Chancellor of the NOUN who personally presented them with the letter approving their PhD courses said it is tuition free.

“To us, this is ground breaking and very encouraging, as they have shown that they are not limited by the situation they find themselves. And that is part of the essence of our on-going reformation across the prisons.

“As a result of this, the command is also witnessing an increase of enrollment of inmates into various categories of learning at the various prisons schools.

“We are indeed happy with the establishment of the new NOUN centre at the Kirikiri Prison, with state-of-the art facilities such as ultra modern and well stocked library, computers and air conditioners,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the statistics of the inmates from the various facilities, he said that 91 of the inmates were from the Ikoyi Prisons, 12 from the Female Prisons, 14 from from the Medium and 40 from the Maximum Prisons.