The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, has awarded degree certificates to six inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, in a ceremony that highlighted the role of education in rehabilitation and reintegration.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, commended the graduates for their resilience, discipline and determination to pursue education despite the challenges of incarceration.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command Public Relations Officer, Samson Duza, Nwakuche said the inmates successfully completed various academic programmes offered by NOUN while in custody.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the graduates earned degrees in different disciplines, including two Master’s Degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
The remaining four inmates received Bachelor’s Degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, Criminology, and Security Studies.
The Controller General, who was represented at the ceremony by the Deputy Controller General, Dr Amos Kupan, described education as a powerful tool for transformation, stressing that imprisonment should not be seen as the end of personal growth.
“Education transforms lives, builds capacity and proves that incarceration is not a dead end. It can be an opportunity for self-development, reform and successful reintegration into society,” he said.
Nwakuche reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to expanding educational and vocational opportunities within custodial centres, noting that such initiatives prepare inmates for lawful livelihoods and productive lives after release.
In his welcome address, the Controller of Corrections, Federal Capital Territory Command, Mr Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates and urged them to serve as good ambassadors of the Kuje Custodial Centre.
Also Read: Correctional Service mulls health insurance for inmates
He encouraged them to use their certificates to improve their lives after discharge, advising them not to allow stigma to define their future. Jen also called on the graduates to pursue further education and build on the foundation they had already laid.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, the Director of the NOUN Special Study Centre, Dr Francis Enobore, appreciated the Nigeria Correctional Service for over 13 years of partnership in advancing educational development within custodial facilities.
Enobore, a retired Controller of Corrections, described the initiative as a “pathway of hope,” stating that NOUN remained committed to empowering inmates through education to restore dignity and support effective re-entry into society.
He explained that the university’s open and distance learning model made education accessible to marginalised groups, including inmates, adding that the graduates were living proof that learning heals, equips and rebuilds self-worth.
Enobore further disclosed that NOUN planned to expand similar partnerships to reach more inmates across custodial centres nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari expressed gratitude to the Controller General of the NCoS, the officers and personnel of the Kuje Custodial Centre, as well as the Vice-Chancellor and management of NOUN, for providing the opportunity to study while in custody.
He said the educational experience restored their sense of purpose, noting that their years in custody were not wasted and that the knowledge gained would remain valuable throughout their lives.
The event also featured counselling sessions focused on re-entry, skill development and community reintegration, as the graduates pledged to embrace positive change and contribute meaningfully to society upon their release.
NAN
