July 6, 2018

Fourteen inmates of Kaduna  Prison  are now ready to commence their academic programmes  at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The Controller of  Prisons  in Kaduna State, Yusuf Abubakar, disclosed  this while speaking  with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  on Thursday in Kaduna.

He said the matriculation of  the inmates took place recently  within the prison premises and was presided over by Dr Aminu Kassim, the representative of the Vice Chancellor of  NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Adamu.

Abubakar, who   said the inmates were selected on the basis of qualification required for admission by any  conventional university, added that the initiative was part of  the ongoing  prisons service inmate  reform programme.

The controller said the programme being run in the prison in  partnership with NOUN was  aimed at improving the lives of inmates.

“The award of NOUN degree was based on display of good character and excellence in studies and inmates from each state are selected to benefit from it.

“ All the programmes offered by the university have been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the inmates are to obtain degree certificates within the prison free of charge,’’ he said.

According to Abubakar,  computers are available for students to use during  the programme while internet services will be provided.

The controller expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NOUN for setting up the  study centre in the prison and called on the students to make the best of the opportunity.

On prison decongestion, the controller said inmates were usually transferred from Kaduna to Kujama prison where they engage  in farming.

” Crime is committed almost on daily basis in the society and people are  convicted daily as well, hence the congestion.

”  When the facility here is filled  to capacity, we transfer some of the inmates to the other prison in Kujama and engage them mainly in agricultural activities,’’ he said.

He also said a structure  with capacity for  200 inmates would soon be inaugurated in Kaduna prison to reduce congestion.