13 inmates from the Umuahia Prisons in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria, have been matriculated into the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for the 2016 /2017 Academic year.
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) after inspection of facilities in the prison earlier in the year approved the Study Centre as part of its partnership with the Nigerian Prisons Service in providing opportunities for the inmates to link up their already truncated education programme as a result of their incarceration. Educational programme is one of the programmes employed by the Service to reform inmates.
In his opening speech, the Controller General of Prisons Ja’afaru Ahmed who was represented by the Assistant Controller-General of Prisons(ACG)/Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘E’ Owerri, Alloy Uchenwa, while congratulating the matriculating students, advised them to avail themselves make judicious use of the opportunity to get themselves academically updated for eventual and meaningful engagement upon discharge from the Prison.
Vice Chancellor NOUN, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu who spoke through the Ag. Director Umudike Study Centre, Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Ihuoma, urged the matriculating students to attend their classes, respect their lecturers and be of good character, noting that, the cardinal objective for the establishment of the University is basically to provide access to higher education for mass of qualified candidates who are desirous of equipping themselves with quality education in order to uplift their standard of living.
She added that their interest in the programme is a testimony of their ambition and determination to become relevant to themselves, their families and the larger society.
Also speaking, the Officer-In charge of Umuahia Prison, ACP Obizue Valins described the programme as a welcome development and assured the students of a safe, secured and conducive environment for learning.
Speaking on behalf of the matriculating students, Ikechukwu Uka expressed delight for the rare opportunity given to them to actualize their dreams in spite of their present situation and pledged their loyalty to the rules and regulations of the institution.
PR Nigeria reported that the event took place in Umuahia Prison on Friday 16th June, 2017. 10 males and 3 females were matriculated into various disciplines of their interests according to the required minimum qualifications.
