An inmate of Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Craentre (name withheld for security reasons), who bagged a postgraduate diploma in Education and a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Public Administration has prayed the Federal Government of Nigeria to invoke its prerogative of mercy to grant them pardon to enable them harness their skills and learning and contribute to the growth and development of the country.
The graduate, an inmate who is also the leader of the students' body in that facility, made the plea on Thursday, November 20, 2025, during the certificate presentation ceremony organised in collaboration with the management of Port Harcourt Study Centre, NOUN, and Port Harcourt Custodial Centre to distribute certificates to inmates (24) who graduated but for their peculiar circumstances could not attend the convocation ceremony or physically pick up their certificates at the study centre.
He said that he and his colleagues were very grateful to the Federal Government and to the management of NOUN for affording them the opportunity to embrace tertiary education through the total scholarship granted them by NOUN, adding that their academic and intellectual achievements while on incarceration would only be more meaningful if the federal and various state governments grant them pardon and get them reintegrated into the society to enable them hone their skills and expertise in the development of the country.
The Centre Director, Port Harcourt Study Centre, Dr. Theresa Ettu, in her remarks, reiterated that the ceremony was not a convocation ceremony, but a certificate distribution ceremony meant to deliver certificates to the inmates who, for their special circumstance, were not able to appear in person to collect their certificates during the convocation ceremony.
Ettu reminded the certificate recipients that they were awarded their various diplomas and degrees based on their being found worthy in character and learning.
She therefore charged them to be good ambassadors of NOUN even in their peculiar circumstances, prayed that God would visit to regain their freedom and be reintegrated into the society.
The Deputy Comptroller of Correctional Services (DCCS) in charge of the facility, Mr. Emmanuel Otegbola, in his remarks congratulated the certificate recipients, their hard work and the beautiful grades they have made in spite of the uncomfortable environment they find themselves.
Quoting the Holy Scriptures in Romans 12:2, he charged them to remain reformed and transformed through the skills and knowledge they have gained.
Otegbola also urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consider granting them pardon as they have attained reformation through higher learning.
Most of the 24 inmates earned 2nd Class (Upper Division) with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.45 was clinched by a young male inmate who studied Public Administration.
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