No fewer than 38 inmates, including those on death row at the Nigerian Correctional Center, Ibara, Abeokuta, have graduated from the West African College For Christian Missions with Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Diploma in Missions.
The graduation ceremony, which took place on Wednesday at the Ibara Correctional Center, saw 32 male and 6 female inmates receive their certificates after completing a four-year academic program.
Transformative Power of Education Behind Bars
Speaking at the event, the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, represented by the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State command, Abioye Adesina, described the ceremony as "a testament to the belief in second chances, in human dignity, and in the transformative power of learning."
Nwakuche commended the graduates for choosing "growth over despair, discipline over distraction and purpose over regret," adding that their achievement proves that correctional centers can be places of progress rather than just punishment.
"Today, we gather not behind walls and fences, but beyond the barriers of stigma, past mistakes, and societal labels. We gather here to honor resilience, recognize transformation, and celebrate the power of education within correctional walls," he stated.
Education as a Catalyst for Reformation
Prof. Olusola Kehinde, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, delivered the keynote lecture titled "Education: A Catalyst for Total Reformation- Empowering Inmates For A Better Life Beyond Bars."
Represented by Prof. Fafiolu Olusesan, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment, Kehinde emphasized that education serves as a powerful tool for change, particularly for those in correctional facilities.
"As we stand here, we acknowledge the power of education to reform, rehabilitate, and uplift. Across the world, correctional facilities are overflowing with individuals who carry the weight of their crimes, the burden of lost opportunity and the residue of broken systems," he said.
"In this environment, education emerges not just as a privilege, but as a powerful catalyst for change. It is more than textbooks and lectures; it is a pathway to dignity, purpose, and reintegration. When we empower inmates with knowledge, we ignite the spark of reformation," Kehinde added.
He urged the graduates to become agents of change and inspire others in their communities, while also calling on the public to support prison education initiatives and shift the narrative from punishment to potential.
The Provost of the West African College For Christian Missions, Abeokuta Campus (in affiliation with Freedom University And Theological Seminary, Pottstown, PA, USA), Charles Ohiku, represented by the Registrar General, Prof. Olarenwaju Oluwasanu, commended the graduates for successfully completing their academic program and fulfilling all requirements.
This graduation marks a significant milestone in Nigeria's correctional system, highlighting the importance of education in rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
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