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Six inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja have earned university degrees through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), marking a significant milestone in prison education and rehabilitation.
The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, said the inmates completed their programmes while still in custody, describing their achievement as proof that education can transform lives and prepare inmates for successful reintegration into society, according to The Cable. NCoS spokesperson Samson Duza noted that two inmates earned master’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, while four received bachelor’s degrees in peace studies and conflict resolution, political science, criminology, and security studies.
Represented by Deputy Controller-General Amos Kupan, Nwakuche emphasized that incarceration should not hinder personal growth and reaffirmed the service’s commitment to providing educational and skill-building opportunities for inmates.
The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to leverage their qualifications as tools for positive change after their release. Francis Enobore, Director of NOUN’s Special Study Centre, described the institution’s long-standing partnership with the correctional service as a “pathway of hope,” highlighting how learning restores dignity and purpose.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Abba Kyari expressed gratitude to both NOUN and the NCoS, saying the opportunity renewed their sense of direction.
The graduation ceremony also included counselling sessions focused on re-entry, skills development, and community reintegration, with the graduates pledging to make meaningful contributions to society upon release.
