Osun prison prepares 30 inmates for varsity education
NAN-H-9
Inmates
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Jan. 10, 2017 (NAN) Mr Segun Oluwasemire, the Osun Controller of Prison on Tuesday urged the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to open a study centre for prisoners in the state.
Oluwasemire made the appeal at the handing over of the rehabilitated and restocked library of Ilesha Prison Secondary School.
The rehabilitation was undertaken by the Alms Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Olumwasemire said that the centre would allow for seamless transition of students of the prison secondary school to university.
He said that 30 inmates of the secondary school were preparing to write their final examination into tertiary institutions.
According to him, the command is being proactive in achieving total reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in its custody by preparing them for new opportunities outside the prisons.
“No fewer than 30 inmates are the pioneer students of our Ilesa Prison Secondary School.
“We hope that sooner than later, NOUN will grant us a special study centre in the state command for a seamless transition of the products of the secondary school to the university,’’ he said.
The controller ascribed the success of the education initiative of the prison authorities in the state to the support from the Controller General of Prisons, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, and the intervention by spirited individuals and organisations.
“I particularly want to recognise the support from the Alms Project Committee of the CBN in Osogbo for the upgraded library and to Princess Hope Foundation for the provision of additional teachers.’’
In his remarks, the CBN Branch Controller, Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim, lauded the prison authorities for their dedication and commitment in carrying out the prison’s reformation mandate.
Ibrahim said the CBN gesture was a service to humanity as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Earlier, Mr Ope Fatinikun, Head of the Ilesa Prison, commended the CBN intervention and urged other corporate organisations to contribute towards reforming the inmates.
“Education is critical to the success of the mandate of the prison service and the place of library in providing sound education and creating an enabling environment for learning cannot be over emphasized,” Fatinikun said.
The Senior Prefect of the school, Waliu Olasunkanmi, alos thanked the CBN committee and the prison authorities for giving him and other inmates the opportunity to further their education.
Olasunkanmi promised that they would make good use of the library for a new life away from crime.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by the CBN to the library includes books, furniture and other educational materials.(NAN)
VE/FAT/MZA
Edited by Fatima Sule/Maharazu Ahmed
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