Three inmates graduate from NOUN, pledge to be positive agents

Three inmates of Kirikiri Maximum Prison recently graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) at the institution’s special study centre in the prison.
While two of the inmates were awarded Masters degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, as well as Business Administration, the other graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

The graduating inmates were Oladipupo Moshood, Tunwashe Kabir and Alegbe Afolabi.While encouraging inmates to be optimistic, the vice chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu said being a prisoner is no limit to their dreams and aspirations in life.

He said most of the programmes available for inmates are entrepreneurship inclined to empower and prepare them for life, adding that skills acquired would enable them live a better and independent lives instead of a futile search for white-collar jobs.

Adamu disclosed that the institute provides free education up to doctoral level for inmates and advised them to make good use of this opportunity.He pledged to improve facilities in the centre and threatened to sanction anyone that deprives inmates of the privilege.

Speaking at the ceremony, Comptroller General, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Ja’afaru Ahmed, urged other inmates to make use of the opportunity provided by NOUN to further their education. Ahmed said the NPS had empowered many inmates with education from secondary to masters degree level as part of efforts to reform the prisoners.

“We have collaborated with Ministry of Labour to give inmates Trade Test Grades one, two and three and for those who want to further their education, we create an enabling environment for them. For those furthering their education, some have done WAEC while some have proceeded to university for degrees; 420 inmates are currently studying in NOUN and 10 are in 400 level.”

One of the graduating inmates, Kabiru Tunwase, who is in his late 40s, expressed appreciation to the prison authorities as well as NOUN for the privilege to study at no cost.He however appealed to the institution to improve the centre’s infrastructure for optimal learning to take place.