The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has given admission to 14 inmates of Oba Custodial Centre and Borstal Institute, Adigbe, Ogun State, to study various courses.
The courses are Public Administration, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mass Communication, Christian Religious Studies, and Information Technology.
Victor Oyeleke, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Custodial Service (NCS), said in a press release that it was yet another season of jubilation in the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, as the inmates were matriculated into the university.
He said the ceremony, which was held inside a hall within the Ibara Custodial Centre, saw the undergraduates donning academic gowns and later took the students oath.
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in his address, charged the inmates to optimise the opportunity the NCS and NOUN have brought to them to enable them gain knowledge that will make them contribute meaningfully in the development of the country.
The VC, who was represented by the Director Abeokuta Study Centre, Dr. Segun Adenuga, congratulated the inmates for being successful in their online admission and registration process.
He advised them to be well behaved and “demonstrate at all times that NOUN offers quality education.”
Peters expressed the gratitude of the NOUN to the NCoS for its support and specially appreciated the Controller of Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Mr. Abdurasheed Alimi, for his open door policy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, who was represented by Mr. Abdurashed Alimi, implored the matriculating students and other inmates to embrace the opportunity offered to them by NOUN to acquire life-changing knowledge.
He reiterated that the occasion underscores the core mandate of the Nigerian Correctional Service “which is to reform and rehabilitate those in its care and subsequently reintegrate them back to the society.”
He noted that programmes like this will reduce recividism rates, improve and increase employment opportunities for those who take the programmes seriously.
Nababa further added that over 3,200 inmates are currently undergoing various profound and life-changing programmes with the NOUN and other higher institutions that are in partnership with the Service.
He expressed his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the rare commitment to life-changing programmes for offenders in custody.
While appreciating the effort of development partners in this worthy course, the CG used the opportunity to call on members of the public to see the new Correctional Service as training institutes empowered to rebuild mind and character.
The Correctional Service boss assured of “his irrevocable commitment to the safety and reformation of the inmates in the custody of the service at all times.”
This is the fifth matriculation at the Custodial Centre under the auspices of NOUN.
The Officer in charge of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Mr. Bamidele Oshin, equally commended NOUN for its partnership with the centre on academic programmes.
The combined ceremony was witnessed by the Principal, Borstal Institute, Adigbe Abeokuta, Controller of Corrections, Victoria Fatodun, Officer in charge of Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Bamidele Oshin and many others.
Mr. Oyeleke revealed that the total number of inmates of Ibara Custodial Centre studying various degree programmes is now 95, including three masters degree students.
