Eight prisoners enrol for NOUN programmes
By Sesan Olufowobi
Published: Saturday, 21 Feb 2009

The Nigerian Prisons Service has opened study centres inside its prisons for eight of its inmates that got admission into the National Open University of Nigeria.

Saturday Punch gathered that one study centre was opened at the Ikoyi Prison, while two were located inside Kirikiri Prison to cater for those in the Minimum and Maximum prisons respectively.

In the past, the NPS had to plead for amnesty for its inmates that got admission into Nigerian universities through the Joint Admission Matriculation Board. That was why only those who had one or two years to end their prison terms were allowed to write the matriculation examination.

However, it was gathered that the Prison authorities decided to help willing and qualified inmates to apply for NOUN programmes since they would not need to study outside the prison.

A senior official of the NPS, Lagos State Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not the official spokesman of the command, told our correspondent that eight of the inmates were students of NOUN.

“They are in science and the social sciences. I cannot tell you the particular courses for now,” he said.

Further investigations revealed that the Ikoyi Prison study centre has only two students who have about 10 years to finish their prison terms. Three inmates of the minimum and medium and three inmates of the maximum prison are using the centre.

It was discovered that only prisoners on death row and those sentenced for life are in the maximum prison. But the official said the authorities allowed them to go to school in order to get their mind off their plight.

“Don’t forget that some of them could still be pardoned. If the person had his degree by then, he could find a job and start his life all over again. Some of the inmates are even gunning for Ph.D,” he said.

However, it was also learnt that the centres might be unified and reduced to one. A General Overseer of a pentecostal church is currently equipping the proposed centre with modern IT gadgets. “By the time it is finished, no other study centre in Nigeria will beat it,” our source said.

The spokesman of the NPS in Lagos State , Ope Fatinikun, confirmed the establishment of the NOUN centres in the prisons, describing it as a good thing. He also confirmed that eight students used the centres, adding that more would still join them.

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