How I acquired degree inside Prisons, returned home free – ex-inmate

When he was arrested and remanded at the Ikoyi custodial facility 10 years ago for an alleged crime, his future looked bleak, but with determination, resilience, hope, and the grace of God, 45-year-old Gabriel Enejor not only returned home a free man but also with a degree certificate.

Enejor is among the 22,175 graduands atSaturday’s convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Enejor studied Criminology and Security Studies and graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division).

He studied at NOUN, the Ikoyi custodial facility of the National Correctional Centre, Lagos State Command.

He went to university from prison along with his fellow inmate, Mr. Hamas Okpe, 37, who also studied criminology and security studies.

Enejor is highly elated to be part of the 13th convocation ceremony of NOUN.

For Enejor, the journey was tough but rewarding and fulfilling.

According to him, education remains the best weapon with which to achieve dreams and live positively.

Enejoralso believes that education remains a key driverof peace and progress; thus, every opportunity should be exploited to be educated.

“I am full of joy, having achieved this feat.

“The journey was not easy; nonetheless, I feel elated and return all glory to God that I am part of the 13th convocation ceremony of this university.

“When I walked into this facility 10 years ago, I discovered that this correctional centre is indeed all about reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

“This gave me hope that one day I will be better than what I was before coming here,” the ex-inmate narrates.

He says hestarted the journey byengaging in academic activities at the correctional centre.

”After that, I enrolled in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.

“I came out with very good grades, and the next step was for me to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by JAMB.

“I also passed well and was admitted into NOUN in this facility, where I studied Criminality and Security Studies for four years, and here we are today,” he narrates.

According to Enejor, he left the custodial facility in November 2023.

“I was brought in here for an offence I knew nothing about. I was eventually arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction, after which I was discharged and acquitted,” he says.

On how he will contribute to society with his education, the ex-inmate says:“As a criminologist and with the current security challenges in the country, a person like me, who has been in this custodial centre and has gone through the university, studying criminology and security studies, I believe my re-integration into society will be for the benefit of mankind.

“My contribution to society is to join hands with the government in tackling crime and ensuring it is brought down to the barest minimum.

“I have been here in this correctional facility, where I have interacted with various types of people. It has opened my eyes.

“As a criminologist or expert in the criminal justice system, I will, indeed, do better and contribute my quota to making our society a better place for all,” he says.

Enejor urges inmates to seize every opportunity to be educated and empowered.

Mr. Julius Ogueri, officer in charge of the Ikoyi custodial centre, is proud of Enejor and his colleague.

According to him, no circumstance should limit anyone from attaining his or her life’s goals.

“It is all about willpower,” he says.

He is excited that the custodial facility produced the two graduates due to their academic excellence.

“I must say it is a feat worth celebrating.”

He describes the graduates as potential achievers.

“They had their programme spanned through the normal four years and had all the support the facility could give to make them succeed.

“Before now, there was no study centre here, but as soon as I assumed office, I ensured that a study centre was approved here in the facility by NOUN after having met all the requirements.

“We reached out to some public-spirited individuals and even churches for assistance to make the study centre up to standard.

“To God be the glory, a church, House on the Rock, came to our rescue and equipped the centre with ICT (information and communication technology), which is a key requirement by NOUN.

“Today, we are getting huge results. Currently, we have a total of 125 undergraduates cut across various disciplines, studying in NOUN from the facility,” he says.

The officer emphasises that the key goals of the facility are transformation and reintegration.

According to him, custodial centres are not dungeons or dumping grounds.

“We take pride in giving equal learning opportunities to inmates, as well as empowering them with skills.

“I want to say that these two, who graduated from the NOUN, have since been discharged and acquitted. They are no longer inmates here.

“They came from their homes for the graduation. By the time they left the facility, they had already completed their programmes.

“They started school here as inmates and completed it before they were discharged and acquitted.

“I believe they know why they keyed into this giant leap. With what they have acquired here, they have what it takes to be the best at all they want to do,” he says.

Pastor Anthony Enejor, Gabriel Enejor’s elder brother, is happy that his brother achieved the feat and is now a free man.

According to him, their family members had been praying and supporting the ex-inmate.

He says the family members were hopeful that one day the ex-inmate would return home a free man.

“Year 2023 remains one of the best for me because two of my children graduated from the university. That same year, my brother was discharged and acquitted.

“It is a thing of great joy, and forever we will continue to praise God,” he said.