The Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Kamarudeen Adesina, has said no fewer than 550 inmates across the state’s correctional facilities have earned various degrees and vocational trainings between the year 2024 and 2025.

Adesina explained that over 300 inmates graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria while 250 from the Yewa Central College of Education.

He disclosed this on Thursday, at the award ceremony of officers from various facilities by the African Emerging Leadership, Research and Development Organization, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The controller noted that this achievement highlights the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) commitment to providing education, vocational training, and counseling to promote behavioral change and reintegration into the society.

Adesina added that they also trained officers to enhance their skills and knowledge for effective service delivery.

He said, “Here we have graduated over 300 inmates from the National Open University Of Nigeria, 250 inmates from Yewa Central College of Education and in so many vocational training.

“On public protection, we have safeguarded the public through safe, secure, and humane custody of offenders. Respecting the rights and dignity of all offenders, and promoting non-discrimination”.

In his remarks, the Convener, African Emerging Leadership, Research and Development Organization, Dannis Efe-Khaese praised the controller for meeting expectations, characterising him as a man who ensured that things were put in the right place, stressing that success is defined based on the achievements of the command.

Efe-Khaese, however, called for the monitoring of freed inmates, saying while the NCoS is doing well in reformation, it lacks behind in the reintegration of freed inmates into the society.

“So, that reformation is excellent but the reintegration back into the society is an area the Nigerian correctional service needs to look into, so that we won’t be having people who were freed returning back.

“After freeing an inmate, they should be monitored, we see some of them outside begging, they just came out of the prison and they don’t have any other thing to do. Some even feel they can do anything and go back in there. You need to warn them that they should never be seen in the prisons again.”

In response, the controller emphasized that freed inmates are monitored closely, and appealed to the public for support, highlighting stigmatization as a major challenge.

He opined that the correctional facilities cannot address the issue alone and need the public’s help, particularly from the families of the inmates, to achieve their goals.

Over 550 inmates bag academic, vocational degrees in Ogun correctional centres