No fewer than 38 inmates, including those on death row, have graduated from the West African College for Christian Missions with degrees in Theology and Missions.
The graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday within the walls of the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, saw 32 male and six female inmates awarded Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Diplomas in Missions after successfully completing a rigorous four-year academic programme.
The event marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), showcasing its commitment to rehabilitation through education.
Representing the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, the Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, praised the graduates for their resilience and determination, despite their circumstances.
“Today, we gather beyond the barriers of stigma and societal labels to celebrate resilience and the transformative power of education within correctional walls,” Adesina said.
He added, “To our graduating inmates — or rather, our scholars in correction — you have chosen growth over despair, discipline over distraction, and purpose over regret.
“This certificate is not just a piece of paper; it is proof that change is possible and that correctional facilities can become centres of progress.”
Also speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Olusola Kehinde, whose keynote address was delivered by Prof. Fafiolu Olusesan, emphasized the role of education as a catalyst for reformation and reintegration.
“Across the world, correctional facilities are overflowing with individuals burdened by crime and lost opportunities.
“But education offers a path to dignity, purpose, and a future beyond bars,” Kehinde stated.
He urged the inmates to become agents of change and called on the public to support prison education initiatives, stressing the need to shift focus from punishment to potential.
The Provost of the West African College for Christian Missions, Charles Ohiku, represented by the Registrar General, Prof. Olarenwaju Oluwasanu, congratulated the graduates for meeting the academic board’s requirements, noting that their perseverance exemplifies obedience to divine calling.
According to him, the College, affiliated with Freedom University and Theological Seminary, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA, remains committed to raising spiritually equipped individuals, even from correctional environments.
He also revealed that the institution holds the mandate to award honorary degrees to divinely distinguished personalities in society who have exemplified obedience to God’s voice.
The ceremony, held at the Ibara campus of the College within the Old Abeokuta Correctional Centre, was attended by senior correctional officers, religious leaders, and academic partners, all applauding the inmates’ journey from incarceration to inspiration.
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