No fewer than 52 inmates at the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, Ogun State, have matriculated into two tertiary institutions as part of efforts to promote rehabilitation, education and reintegration into society.
The joint matriculation ceremony, held on Friday, was organised in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the West African College for Christian Missions.
Twenty-six inmates were admitted into each institution.
Speaking at the event, themed “Unlocking Potentials for Life After Incarceration Through Education: Resilience and Reintegration,” the Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Abiyoye Kamoru Adesina, described the ceremony as a symbol of hope, personal development and a fresh start for the inmates.
Adesina said the initiative aligned with the Correctional Service Act 2019, which prioritises the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
He, however, highlighted challenges facing the centre in providing educational and vocational training opportunities, calling for increased support from the government, philanthropists, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders.
According to him, government alone cannot meet all the needs of the correctional facility, making public-private collaboration essential to achieving its rehabilitation objectives.
He appealed to the government to increase its support for the Correctional Service and urged the newly admitted inmates to maximise the opportunity to prepare for life after incarceration.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, described the ceremony as a demonstration of education’s transformative power.
Arigbabu, represented by a ministry director, Abosede Odulesi, disclosed that the ministry sponsored 14 eligible inmates to participate in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
He said the initiative was part of efforts to promote inclusive education in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The commissioner encouraged the inmates to approach their studies with discipline and dedication, stressing that education provides the knowledge, skills and values needed to become responsible and productive members of society.
He also urged other inmates to take advantage of available educational and vocational training opportunities, noting that their present circumstances should not determine their future aspirations.
In his remarks, the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, drew on his personal experience of six years in detention at Agodi Prison, Ibadan, between 1987 and 1993, to encourage the inmates.
Olujobi urged them not to allow their confinement to limit their ambitions, describing education as a pathway to social reintegration and personal transformation.
Earlier, the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, urged the inmates to remain focused on their education, saying their confinement should motivate rather than discourage them from pursuing a better future.
The ceremony underscored the role of education in equipping inmates with the knowledge and skills needed to rebuild their lives and reintegrate successfully into society after their release.