The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has awarded degree certificates to six inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to use education as a tool for rehabilitation.
At the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, the Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, praised the inmates for their perseverance and commitment to self-improvement despite the challenges of incarceration.
According to a statement issued by the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Samson Duza, the graduates completed various NOUN programmes while in custody. Their qualifications include two Master’s degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, as well as four Bachelor’s degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, and Criminology and Security Studies.
Nwakuche said the achievement reflects NOUN’s dedication to making education accessible to all, while also highlighting the Correctional Service’s focus on reform, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Amos Kupan, the Controller-General described education as a powerful force for transformation. “Incarceration is not the end of the road,” he said. “It can be a turning point for growth, capacity building and preparation for a productive life after release.”
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to expanding educational and vocational opportunities that equip inmates with skills for lawful and meaningful livelihoods.
Also speaking at the event, the Controller of Corrections for the FCT Command, Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates and urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the Kuje Custodial Centre. He encouraged them to use their certificates to improve their lives, ignore stigma, and pursue further education.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, the Director of the NOUN Special Study Centre, Dr Francis Enobore, commended the Nigeria Correctional Service for 13 years of collaboration in educational development. He described the initiative as “a pathway of hope,” stressing that NOUN’s open and distance learning system makes education possible even for the most marginalised.
Enobore, a retired Controller of Corrections, noted that the graduates’ success shows that education can heal, restore dignity and prepare inmates for effective reintegration. He added that NOUN plans to expand the programme to reach more custodial centres nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari expressed deep appreciation to the Correctional Service, officers of the Kuje Custodial Centre, and the management of NOUN for giving them the opportunity to study while in custody.
“Our time here was not wasted,” he said. “The knowledge we gained has restored our sense of purpose and will remain useful to us for the rest of our lives.”
The ceremony also featured counselling sessions focused on re-entry, skill development and community reintegration, as the graduates pledged to return to society as agents of positive change.
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