NOUN Admits 14 Prison Inmates in Ogun for Academic Programmes
It was yet another season of jubilation in the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara Ogun State on Thursday 14th April 2022, as 14 Inmates in the facility and Borstal Institute Adigbe were matriculated into the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to study various courses such as Public Administration, Political Science, Human Kinetics, Peace and Conflict Resolution , Film Production, Information Technology, Mass Communication and Philosophy.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters in his address, charged the inmates to take the life changing opportunities that NCoS and NOUN have brought to them very serious. The VC who was represented by Dr. Segun Adenuga, the Director Abeokuta Study Center, assured the inmates of NOUN’s commitment to making their study seamless and peaceful. He urged them to have thirst for knowledge and be a generation that will join hands with others in diaspora to to forge a better future for our nation after their release.
The VC expressed the gratitude of the NOUN to NCoS for its support and specially appreciated the Controller of Correctional Service, Ogun State Command for his open door policy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Controller General of Corrections HALIRU NABABA FICMC, mni, who was represented by the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command Abdurasheed Alimi, implored the matriculating students and other inmates to embrace opportunity offered to them by NOUN to add value to their lives
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He reiterated that the occasion underscores the core mandate of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) which is to reform and rehabilitate those in its care and subsequently reintegrate them back to the society. He informed that this will reduce recividism rates, improve and increase employment opportunities for those who take the program serious.
Haliru noted that over 3,000 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, CGFR 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 look beyond the old broken life of offenders and consider assisting them to settle peacefully in the society as this is the only way to break the circle of reoffending.
The Corrections boss assures of his irrevocable commitment to the safety and comprehensive reformation of the offenders in his care.
This is the forth matriculation at the Custodial Center, under the auspices of NOUN. The combined ceremony was witnessed by the Director of Mass Literary, Alhaji Mikail Lawal who represented the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Ogun State, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu. Principal Borstal Institute, Adigbe Abeokuta, Controller of Corrections Victoria Fatodun, Officer in charge of Old Abeokuta Custodial Center Ibara, Abeokuta, Deputy Controller of Corrections Bamidele Oshin and many others.
The total number of inmates of Ibara Custodial Center studying various degree programmes is now Seventy Six (76) including Four Masters degree Students while that of Borstal institute is Six (6).
Oyeleke Victor
Command Public Relations Officer.
