Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, NOUN graduates 9 inmates

The Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, on Friday commended nine inmates of Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre for their giant strides in acquiring quality education.

Nababa gave the commendation during the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) graduation ceremony of nine inmates and two staff in the Maximum Correctional Centre in Port Harcourt.

Supreme News reports that the nine inmates and two staff were the fifth set of graduates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre and part of those who graduated in the 12th convocation ceremony of the University.

Nababa represented by Mr Felix Lawrence, the Controller of Corrections, Rivers State Command, also commended the inmates for working very hard and remaining focused to achieve their dream in their academic field.

Nababa stated that the partnership between the NOUN and the Nigerian Correctional Service in the last decade had been fruitful.

He noted that since 2012, the relationship between the Nigerian Correctional Service and NOUN has yielded a significant increase, from 24 inmates in 2012 to 65 in the current edition.

“This has appreciably raised the bar as far as reformatory activities for those behind bars are concerned; inmates now have a golden opportunity to pursue their educational aspirations while in incarceration, thereby gaining the time rather than losing it.

“Have you come this far? I urge you to remain resolute in your desire to be responsible and productive citizens. With determination, this achievement will be the beginning of many more good things to come.

“On our part, we will not relent in our commitment to providing a conducive environment for the proper reformation of inmates, which of course includes unrestricted access to quality education.

“It is our statutory duty, and we will continue to discharge it with the passion and zeal it requires,” he said.

Earlier, Mr. Effiong Etim, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in Charge of Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, commended the school for bringing university education to the facility.

Etim applauded the Controller General of Corrections and the Rivers State Controller of Corrections for their unalloyed support of the Centre.

Etim, while handing the certificates to the graduates, stated that the programme was free for the inmates as they studied under the university’s scholarship programmes funded by the Federal Government.

He advised the inmates to be morally upright and allow the school to pass through them while they were studying there.

“We are encouraging others to enrol in the programme because education is one of the ways to reform a person.

“We have religion and recreation, but among all, education is paramount because if you are informed, you will not be deformed,” he said.

Etim urged youths in society contemplating indulging in one crime or another to repent, as crime does not pay.

Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, represented by Dr. Nancy Chukwuma, the Director of the Port Harcourt Study Centre of the university, congratulated the graduating inmates for distinguishing themselves by showcasing their capabilities.

Peters commended the Nigerian Correctional Service for the cooperation that had led to improved successes in their partnership with the university over the years.

He urged the inmates not to be discouraged but to remain focused on achieving their life goals, saying that the purpose of bringing the University to the centre was to provide opportunities for inmates who wanted to develop themselves.

Mr. Magnus Suanu, one of the graduands who spoke on behalf of other inmates, thanked the Nigerian Correctional Service and NOUN for extending the opportunity for them to study in the prison.

Suanu appealed to the Federal Government to consider deserving and reformed inmates for pardon after using public resources for training and educating them.

“We commend former President Olusegun Obasanjo for initiating this programme and also appreciate subsequent presidents and the NCoS for sustaining the programme,” he said.