A prisoner at the Awka Correctional Centre in Anambra, Jude Onwuzulike, has bagged a postgraduate diploma and master’s degree from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The inmate, Mr Onwuzulike was presented with the postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in Information Technology certificates at the NOUN Awka study centre.

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NOUN’s registrar Felix Edoka, while presenting the certificates at the Awka prison, said the programme was targeted at impacting lives, including providing education to the inmates.

Mr Edoka, represented by the Deputy Registrar (Academics), Oladipo Ajayi, commended the inmate for achieving the feat despite his peculiar environment.

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.

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