ABUJA, FCT– The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has actually revealed that 56 inmates from different correctional centres across the nation are amongst the 24,575 trainees set to finish at its 15th convocation event.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Uduma Uduma, disclosed this throughout a pre-convocation press instruction on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Abuja.
The VC characterised the addition of incarcerated students as a quiet revolution and a deliberate policy of the university to ensure that education remains a basic right, despite social status or location.
A Path to Reintegration
Teacher Uduma emphasised that the involvement of inmates in the academic procedure is a testament to the transformative power of the Open and Distance Knowing (ODL) model.
By extending degree programmes into custodial centres, NOUN is actively utilizing education as a tool for rehab, assisting prisoners restore their identities and get ready for life after imprisonment.
“For us, it is not almost granting certificates; it has to do with bring back self-respect, restoring identity, and declaring humanity,” the VC specified.
He noted that the effort shows the university’s core approach that no human is beyond redemption.
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Secret Emphasizes of the 15th Convocation:
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Overall Finishing Cohort: 24,575 students.
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Prisoner Graduates: 56 people from reformatories across the country.
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Convocation Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026.
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Format: Simultaneous ceremonies across NOUN’s several study centres.
The Vice-Chancellor described NOUN as a leader in versatile learning, dealing with workers, females, and non-traditional trainees who can not be confined to physical class.
The 2026 friend is particularly diverse, crossing various professors and social backgrounds, all supported by a technology-driven knowing infrastructure.
Performance in Service Shipment
In a shift aimed at improving trainee experience, Professor Uduma restated that certificates would be provided right away following the event.
This move toward administrative performance is developed to permit graduates to shift into the workforce or higher research studies without the delays often related to certificate collection in Nigerian tertiary organizations.
As NOUN gets ready for the April 18 occasion, the VC called on the media and other stakeholders to help enhance the effect of inclusive education.
He noted that the long-lasting vision is to position the university as the leading organization for flexible knowing in Africa, guaranteeing that no segment of society is excluded from the benefits of knowledge.
The effective conclusion of degrees by the 56 inmates serves as a powerful presentation of how academic financial investment can decrease recidivism and foster national transformation through individual growth and academic discipline.