Fifty-six inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria will on Saturday, April 18, 2026, receive certificates at the 15th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), marking a significant step in the use of education for prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration.
The inmates form part of the 24,575 students expected to graduate at the ceremony, which will be held simultaneously across NOUN’s multiple study centres nationwide.
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, disclosed this during a pre-convocation news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. He described the initiative as a deliberate policy aimed at inclusion, offering second chances, and driving national transformation through education.
“The inmates are among the 24,575 students graduating at the ceremony, reflecting the university’s broad reach and inclusive approach to learning, which ensures that education remains accessible to diverse groups across Nigeria,” Prof. Uduma said.
He explained that NOUN’s decision to extend learning to persons behind bars stems from the university’s core philosophy that “no human being is beyond redemption.”
“Access to knowledge remained a fundamental right regardless of circumstance,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
Prof. Uduma emphasised that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) model has successfully removed barriers of location and social status by taking academic programmes directly into correctional facilities.
“For us, it is not just about awarding certificates; it is about restoring dignity, rebuilding identity and reaffirming humanity,” he stated.
He further noted that the inclusion of inmates aligns with NOUN’s mandate of widening access to education and ensuring no segment of society is excluded.
“The initiative demonstrates how education can serve as a tool for rehabilitation and reintegration, offering inmates a pathway to rebuild their lives after incarceration,” Prof. Uduma said.
Describing the correctional education programmes as “a quiet revolution” in Nigeria’s education sector, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that learning is no longer confined to physical classrooms.
He added that all graduates, including the inmates, are expected to participate in the convocation, with certificates to be issued immediately after the ceremony as part of improved student-focused service delivery.
Prof. Uduma called for continued support from stakeholders, especially the media, to amplify the impact of such inclusive education initiatives.
