By Tony Adibe
Not less than 200 inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Enugu, are currently undertaking various first-degree and higher degree studies in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) in charge of Enugu Custodial Centre, Dr Sunday Igwe, said this in Enugu on Monday.
Igwe said that the bulk of the over 200 students in the MSCC Centre in Enugu are pursuing their first degrees, while a few others were doing their Masters and Doctorate degrees.
He also revealed that recently, over 102 inmates sat for the just-concluded National Examination Council (NECO) examination in anticipation of pursuing their degree courses.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) under the current Controller-General Sylvester Nwakuche has continued to make a monumental impact on inmates’ reformation and upgrade through education, according to him.
Igwe said that the current leadership of the NCoS had prioritised humane and impact-driven reformation especially education upgrade and certification of inmates.
“Once they (inmates) are here; we don’t just keep them idling away; we engage them in so many things that would make their stay worthwhile. In most instances; most of them come here without knowing how to write their names.
“As we engage them here through the process of education; some of them leave here with their degree certificates on various courses.
“We are in partnership with NECO and NOUN to achieve this result-oriented and impact-driven educational reformation.
“In the Open University (NOUN); over 200 of them in this Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Enugu, are undertaking various degree-awarding courses,” he said.
He said that it was heartwarming that in a facility holding over 3,000 inmates, that over 200 of them are actively engaged in pursuing university education and some of them started their pursuit from the scratch.
Igwe said that apart from education; the inmates are engaged in learning crafts and vocations through the tailoring, carpentry and wielding workshops in the centre.
He thanked the Assistant Controller-General of NCoS in-charge of Zone M, Enugu, ACG Prisca Oku, and the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Valins Obizue, for their support and guidance.
“As government cannot do it all alone, we are calling on public-spirited individuals, groups and organisations to partner with the NCoS to sustain all the engagements and programmes of reformation in this centre,” he added.
