Inmate
The National Open University, Special Studies Centre, Lagos, has offered 15 prisoners admission. The inmates were admitted to study various courses such as Law, Theology as well as Peace Study and Conflict Resolution.
The ceremony has brought the number of inmates studying various degree programmes at the NOUN to 35.
The prisoners, who are serving out various terms, were drawn from three prisons – the Nigerian Prisons, Kirikiri, Ikoyi; Maximum Security Prisons and the Medium Security Prisons.
During the 12th matriculation ceremony held at the Special Centre for the Nigerian Prison Service, KiriKiri, recently, the inmates, dressed in their academic gowns, joined prison officials and staff of the NOUN.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, charged the new students to make use of their study materials in order to excel.
Tenebe, who was represented by the Chief Counsellor of NOUN, Mr. Athanasusis Onyeokoro, said, “The study materials can be likened to classroom teachers. As a matter of fact, they will be your teachers. The university has prepared your study materials in diverse formats in order to make your studies easy as well as interesting for you.
“I urge you to make good use of your study materials and other learning avenues as these, to a great extent, will determine the level of your success at the end of your programmes.’’
The Vice Chancellor noted that the five female matriculating inmates represent the highest number of female inmates ever admitted into the university since 2009 when the Special Study Centre was established.
He further charged the matriculating students not to be weighed down by their present circumstances, but to make good use of their jail terms to win academic laurels.
Tenebe also informed the guests that NOUN was on the verge of providing an online platform for an interface between students and their lecturers.
“Let me quickly add that the university is now test-running the i-Learn platform for online facilitation. This platform will enable students to interact with their course facilitators as well as co-students for improved learning experience.’’
In his remarks, the Deputy Controller of Prison, Mr. Rasheed Alimi, encouraged the prisoners to study hard and conquer their present challenges.