The National Open University of Nigeria has announced that 56 inmates from correctional centres across the country will graduate at its 15th convocation ceremony.

Vice-Chancellor Uduma Uduma described the initiative as part of the institution’s commitment to inclusive education and second chances.

According to him, the inmates are among 24,575 students graduating, reflecting the university’s wide reach and flexible learning model.

Uduma emphasised that the programme is not symbolic but represents real academic achievement and personal transformation, noting that “no human being is beyond redemption.”

He explained that NOUN’s Open and Distance Learning system enables education to reach underserved groups, including those in correctional facilities, removing barriers related to location and social status.

The initiative, he said, highlights education as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and reintegration, helping inmates rebuild their lives after incarceration.

The convocation is scheduled for April 18 and will be held across the university’s study centres nationwide, with certificates to be issued immediately after the ceremony.