The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has conferred degree certificates on six inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony held in Abuja, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, praised the graduates for their perseverance and commitment to education despite their circumstances.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Samson Duza, Nwakuche disclosed that the graduates pursued different academic programmes of NOUN while in custody.
Media reports revealed that the inmates earned degrees across various fields, including two Master’s Degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
The remaining graduates obtained four Bachelor’s Degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, Criminology, and Security Studies.
The ceremony highlighted NOUN’s dedication to inclusive and accessible education, alongside the NCoS emphasis on rehabilitation and the successful reintegration of inmates into society.
Nwakuche, who was represented by the Deputy Controller General (DCG), Dr. Amos Kupan, stated that education transforms lives, builds capacity and shows that incarceration is not an end but an avenue for growth and reintegration.
“The Service will continue to foster skills and educational opportunities that prepare inmates for lawful livelihoods and a better future after release.”
In his welcome address, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and urged them to serve as worthy ambassadors of the custodial centre.
He advised them to utilise their certificates to improve their lives upon release, cautioned them against allowing stigma to discourage them, and encouraged them to pursue further education to consolidate their success.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, the Director of the NOUN Special Study Centre, Dr. Francis Enobore, commended the Service for its 13 years of collaboration in educational development.
Enobore, who also served as a retired Controller of Corrections (CC), described the initiative as a pathway of hope, adding that NOUN would continue to empower inmates towards dignity and effective reintegration into society.
He explained that NOUN’s open and distance learning system enables even marginalised individuals to access education, noting that the graduates were evidence that learning heals, equips and restores dignity.
Enobore added that the university plans to expand similar partnerships to reach more inmates across custodial centres nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari expressed appreciation to the NCoS Controller General, officers and personnel of the Kuje Custodial Centre, as well as the Vice-Chancellor and management of NOUN, for the opportunity to study while in custody.
He said the learning experience renewed their sense of purpose, stressing that their years in detention were not wasted and that the knowledge gained would remain valuable throughout their lives.
The highlights of the event, according to reports, included counselling sessions on re-entry, skills acquisition and community reintegration, as the inmates pledged to embrace positive change and contribute meaningfully to society after their release.
