A prisoner at the Awka Correctional Centre in Anambra has bagged two certificates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Awka Study Centre.

The inmate, Jude Onwuzulike received the certificates of Post Graduate Diploma and Masters of Science degrees in Information Technology on Tuesday, June 29.

Mr. Felix Edoka, Registrar, NOUN, while presenting the certificates at the Awka Correctional Centre, said the programme was targeted at impacting lives, including providing education to the inmates.

The Registrar represented by the Deputy Registrar (Academics), Oladipo Ajayi, commended the inmate for achieving the feat despite being in prison.

He urged other prisoners to take advantage of the programme to become educated.

Also speaking, the director of NOUN Awka Centre, Scholastica Ezeribe, said, “The inmate defended the certificates online under strict supervision. This shows that distance and space were no barriers to interested students of the institution.

“We could have given him the certificates with his colleagues during the convocation in Abuja, but because of his peculiar situation, we had to bring the two-in-one certificate to him.”

The prison comptroller, Patrick Chukwuemeka, added that the scheme was initiated for inmates’ educational development and skill empowerment.

Mr. Chukwuemeka thanked the programme facilitators for their assistance to the graduate, appealing to other inmates to imitate Mr. Onwuzulike.

“The correctional centre is not only for confinement, but opportunities for the inmates to upgrade themselves academically as well as learn skills that will make them better persons after their jail term,” he said.8

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