The Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has charged the newly admitted fourteen inmate undergraduates of Medium Security Custodian Centre, (NCoS), Ibara, Ogun State to showcase at all times that NOUN offers quality education.
The VC stated this while delivering his address during the 5th Matriculation Ceremony held at the Custodial Centre, Ibara, Ogun State on Tuesday, 18th October 2022.
The 14 inmates were drawn from the centre’s facilities of Oba Custodial Centre and Borstal Institute, Adigbe and were successfully matriculated into the NOUN to study various courses.
The courses are: Public Administration, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mass Communication, Christian Religious Studies, and Information Technology.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Victor Oyeleke, said in a press release that the VC also charged the inmates to optimize the opportunity Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) and NOUN have brought to them to enable them gain knowledge that will make them contribute meaningfully in the development of the country.
According to the command spokesman, the VC was represented by the Director, Abeokuta Study Centre, Dr. Segun Adenuga, who congratulated the inmates for being successful in their online admission and registration process.
The ceremony, which was held inside a hall within the Ibara Custodial Centre, saw the undergraduates donning academic gowns and later took the matriculation oath.
He advised them to be well behaved and “demonstrate at all times that NOUN offers quality education.”
The VC expressed the gratitude of the NOUN to NCoS for its support and specially appreciated the Controller of Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Abdurasheed Alimi for his open-door policy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa FICMC mni MFR, who was represented by the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abdurashed Alimi, implored the matriculating students and other inmates to embrace opportunity offered to them by NOUN to acquire life-changing knowledge.
He reiterated that the occasion underscord 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 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 institute 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 Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Deputy Controller of Corrections, 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.
The total number of inmates of Ibara Custodial Centre studying various degree programmes is now ninety five (95) including three Masters degree students.
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