Seven inmates of the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre have received certificates after they graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The inmates were part of those who graduated in the 2021/2022 academic session in March this year, but were unable to gather with their counterparts outside due to incarceration.
Of the seven inmates, two bagged second class upper degrees, while the five others bagged second class lower degrees.
The Registrar, NOUN, Felix Odoka, disclosed this while handing the certificates to the inmates during a ceremony held at the correctional centre on Friday.
“So that by the time you get out of this place, hopefully there will be no difference between you and those outside.
“To make this possible, the university is granting this education to you people (inmates) free of charge.”
Also, three inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, have been awarded Masters and Bachelors of Science degrees by NOUN.
According to a statement on Sunday, the Controller, Lagos State Command, Ben-Rabbi Freedman, who was represented by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, A.O. Aremu, admonished them not to rest on their oars.
Freedman, during the award presentation held at the Maximum Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, disclosed that the degrees were in Public Administration, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution and Criminology, and Security Studies.
