Six inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, have earned academic certificates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), proving that incarceration does not have to end personal growth.
The graduates completed their studies while in custody, earning two Master’s degrees and four Bachelor’s degrees across disciplines such as Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, Criminology, and Security Studies.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kuje Custodial Centre, Samson Duza, said the ceremony reflected NOUN’s commitment to inclusive education and the Nigerian Correctional Service’s focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
Represented by Deputy Controller-General Amos Kupan, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, praised the inmates for their discipline and determination. He described education as a powerful tool for transformation, saying imprisonment should serve as a turning point, not a dead end.
Similarly, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Peter Jen, urged the graduates to remain good ambassadors of the custodial centre and to use their certificates to rebuild their lives after release.
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Mrs Modupe Adesina, represented by Mr Francis Enobore, said the 13-year partnership between NOUN and the Nigerian Correctional Service has continued to open doors of hope for inmates. She stressed that education restores dignity and prepares individuals for meaningful reintegration into society.
Speaking for the graduates, Abbas Kyari said studying while in custody renewed his sense of purpose. He expressed gratitude to prison officials and NOUN management, noting that their time in custody was not wasted but transformed into a foundation for a better future.
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