At least 58 inmates at different correctional centres in the country will be graduating from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) during the 12th convocation ceremony on Saturday.
Olufemi Peters, vice chancellor of NOUN, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, that seven out of the 58 inmates are post-graduate students.
Peters said the inmates are among 28,740 students that would be graduating during the convocation, noting that there are 21,339 undergraduates and 7401 postgraduate students.
“I can tell you how these inmates are excited and grateful. They are all on scholarship. It is part of our social responsibility,” the VC said.
We have 14 such centres in all our correctional centres. The Ministry of interior wants us to extend these centres to more prisons.
“We want them to have a meaningful life after their years at the correctional centres.”
Peters said there are six first-class graduates and 2,306 upper-division graduates, noting that the university got 30 of its course accredited.
“I want to inform you that 30 programmes of the university were given accreditation –28 have full accreditation and two have interim accreditation.
“We have about 114 study centres across the country. There is hardly any agency of the government that has this type of spread. This is massive and it is something that we are very proud of,” he said.
Speaking on why the university has not been awarding honourary degrees, Peters said there are criteria set by the university senate which are strictly followed, noting that it is shelved till next year.
