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NOUN Urges Correctional Officers To Embrace Distance Learning
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has called on the personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to embrace Open and Distance Learning (ODL) as a means of personal and professional development.
The Director of Examination and Assessment, NOUN, Prof. Olugbenga Ojo, made the call during an advocacy visit to the NCoS Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.
Ojo said that the visit was aimed at sensitising the officers and men of the Service on the numerous benefits of ODL and to encourage them to take advantage of NOUN’s programmes.
These, he said, were designed to provide flexible, affordable and accessible education for working professionals.
The don noted that NOUN had, over the years, supported the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates through its study centres within correctional facilities.
He, however, said there was also an urgent need to extend similar educational opportunities to the staff who serve as frontline agents of reformation and social correction.
He added that enhancing the academic qualifications and capacity of correctional officers would, in turn, impact the quality of their work.
He also added that it would boost efforts to reduce the rate of recidivism and the tendency of released inmates to relapse into crime.
“We are here for a special advocacy visit, not for the inmates this time, but for the staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“Whoever comes to prison should return to society a better person. That is the goal. But the staff must also be empowered and trained for that transformation to be effective.
“Learning is from a craving and I want to encourage you all to try and register for a course. I can only encourage you,” he stressed.
Responding, the Controller-General of Corrections (CGC), Sylvester Nwakuche, commended the management of NOUN for its consistent collaboration with the Service.
Nwakuche described the university as a beacon of educational transformation within the criminal justice system.
He lauded NOUN’s gesture of offering tuition-free education to inmates across its special study centres in custodial centres nationwide, and welcomed the extension of such benefits to the personnel of the NCoS.
“NOUN has become a case study in correctional education.
“For an institution to step in and make education tuition-free for inmates, is something truly commendable. You have recorded real impact, and you’ve done it with excellence,” he said.
The CGC expressed readiness to deepen the existing partnership with the university and assured NOUN that the Service would not only embrace the initiative but also encourage staff participation across commands.
“We are not taking this for granted. We won’t hesitate to key into this initiative. We’ll ensure our staff understand the importance of this opportunity and make the most of it. You are always welcome here,” he said.
Speaking, the National Coordinator, Special Study Centre Unit (SSCU), Ms. Modupe Adesina, reiterated NOUN’s commitment to supporting the reform agenda of the Correctional Service.
Adesina, however, called on the officers and men of the NCoS to take ownership of their educational journey.
“We believe it is time for the personnel of the NCoS to begin to add feathers to their ranks.
“ODL gives you the liberty to work and study simultaneously. It offers flexibility. You can learn and write your exams from anywhere, even in the line of duty.
“We want the correctional staff to realise that everyone can be educated, no matter the time or age,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that over the years, NOUN has established itself as a leader in open and distance education in Nigeria, with a mandate to widen access to tertiary education.
This is especially for underserved populations including inmates, military personnel and paramilitary officers.
Thisdaylive.com
A banker was shot dead, on Sunday, while attempting to resist kidnappers who attacked a family at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State.
But while the deceased’s two sons escaped the attack, two female students were abducted by the invaders.
The incident, which occurred on September 6, 2026, reportedly took place around the NDDC Hostel and the university’s East Back Gate, renewing concerns over the safety of students, staff and residents in and around the institution.
The deceased was identified as Osita Onuoha, a banker and branch manager of Polaris Bank in Owerri. He was reportedly at FUTO to drop off his two sons, who are students of the university, when suspected kidnappers confronted them.
Sources close to the incident said the two boys managed to escape during the encounter.
Their father, however, reportedly confronted the assailants in an attempt to help his children escape. He was subsequently shot several times, according to the sources, before the attackers fled with two female students.
The abducted students were identified as Igwegbe Chioma Lilian, popularly known as Omah, a 2025 FUTO graduate, and Spencer Jennifer Adaeze, a 300-level Optometry student.
Their reported abduction has caused anxiety among their families, friends and members of the university community.
While a source within the university said the two students had been released, another source maintained that they remained in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), in a statement, welcomed the safe release of the abducted female students, commending the security agencies and others whose efforts contributed to their rescue.
Describing their safe return as a relief to their families, fellow students and the university community, the group urged authorities not to allow the students’ release to overshadow the recurring security threats around FUTO, calling for sustained and coordinated measures to prevent further kidnappings and violent attacks.
RULAAC’s statement coincides with reports that the abductors demanded N100 million as ransom for their release, although the claim could not be independently verified.
Brother mourns
Obinna Collins Onuoha, who described himself as the deceased’s only blood brother, expressed shock and grief over his death.
In a Facebook post, he said his brother was killed while taking his children back to FUTO.
“My only blood brother is gone!!!! Shot and killed while taking his children back to FUTO. Who did this to us? Killed before his sons!! Cha, what a wicked world. Your killers will never go free! Rest in peace, my blood,” he wrote.
ASUU raises alarm over perimeter fencing
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUTO branch, Dr Chinedu Ihejirika, attributed part of the security challenges facing the university to the absence of a complete perimeter fence around the institution.
Ihejirika said the problem had persisted for years, noting that successive vice-chancellors had raised concerns about the need to properly secure the university’s boundaries.
“The security challenges we have is that FUTO is not walled off and this has given rise to insecurity. But it did not start today. Many vice-chancellors of the university had called for the perimeter fencing of the institution,” he said.
He recalled that during the tenure of either Prof. Asiabaka or Prof. Francis Eze, portions of the university were fenced as part of efforts to improve security.
He alleged, however, that some hoodlums later pulled down sections of the fence and carted away materials belonging to the university.
According to him, securing FUTO should not be left to the university authorities alone, as it requires collaboration among security agencies, traditional institutions, residents and other stakeholders.
“The issue of security is not FUTO alone; it is a joint effort of the security agencies, traditional institutions, residents and other individuals,” he said.
Ihejirika also commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ikechukwu Dozie, for engaging security agencies over the security situation.
He said Dozie had visited relevant security formations and sought stronger collaboration to address insecurity around the university.
FUTO seeks police intervention
Following the attack, the university management approached the Imo State Police Command for urgent assistance.
The Vice-Chancellor led a delegation of the university management to the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, where they raised concerns over the safety of students and other members of the university community.
The delegation also sought police assistance in securing the safe recovery of the abducted students.
The commissioner reportedly assured the university management of the command’s commitment to securing the institution and working towards the safe recovery of the students.
He also said security operatives were making efforts to track the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Ihejirika also linked the security concerns to the poor condition of roads around the university, particularly routes leading to the area where the latest incident occurred.
“Our roads are completely damaged. From Obinze Junction to FUTO is damaged, likewise the Back Gate or East Gate where the incident happened,” he said.
He appealed to the Imo State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and FUTO alumni to collaborate on the rehabilitation of the roads.
“We need NDDC, government and alumni to come together to rehabilitate the roads to secure lives and property,” he said.
He also expressed concern over thick bushes surrounding parts of the university, saying they could provide hiding places for criminals and increase the vulnerability of students and residents.
Residents demand urgent action
Residents living around FUTO have also called for urgent measures to address the security situation in the area.
They expressed concern about the vulnerability of students and residents who use poorly maintained roads and routes bordered by overgrown vegetation.
The residents called on the state and federal governments, security agencies and other relevant authorities to strengthen security around the university and neighbouring communities.
They urged the authorities to clear overgrown bushes, rehabilitate access roads, increase security patrols and complete the perimeter fencing of the institution.
According to them, securing FUTO is not only about protecting students and staff but also the thousands of residents who live and operate businesses around the university.
They warned that continued neglect of the security vulnerabilities around the institution could expose more students and residents to kidnappers and other criminal elements.
The latest incident has heightened calls for intensified security operations around FUTO as families and members of the university community await clarity on the whereabouts of the two students and efforts to secure their safe release.
The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has alleged the killing of a 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fakunle, an indigene of Iye, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was allegedly killed on at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.
National President of NICASA, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the circumstances surrounding the cleric’s death had left his family, friends and members of the Nigerian community devastated.
According to him, two suspects allegedly gained access to Fakunle’s residence and opened fire on him, reportedly shooting him more than seven times.
Onyekwelu described the incident as a “horrific and senseless act of violence” and condemned the killing, expressing concern over the continued loss of Nigerian lives to violent crime in South Africa.
He said, “This was not merely an ordinary loss of life; it was a horrific and senseless act of violence that has robbed a family of a loved one and the Nigerian community of another precious life.”
Onyekwelu said NICASA had reported the incident to the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, adding that a murder case had been opened at Jeppe Police Station.
He called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“We demand a thorough and credible investigation that will establish exactly what happened, identify all those responsible, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they are brought before the courts to face the full might of the law,” he said.
NICASA also urged Nigerian diplomatic authorities in South Africa to continue engaging with relevant South African authorities and monitor the progress of the investigation until justice is served.
NELFUND has rejected allegations that the Federal Government’s student loan scheme is being used to favour supporters or children of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, dismissed the claim as “completely ridiculous.”
Moreover, he said the structure of the application system does not allow political affiliation to determine who receives the loans.
Sawyerr spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
He explained that the loan scheme is operated through an electronic application process.
Applicants are required to provide personal and academic information, including their names and matriculation numbers.
According to him, the system is designed to establish whether an applicant meets the requirements for the programme.
It does not collect information that would enable NELFUND to determine whether a student belongs to the APC or supports another political party.
“I have not heard this allegation, but I can tell you that it’s a completely ridiculous idea that the administration of Bola Tinubu is focused on trying to fund people who support the party. We are talking about students; many of them are yet to vote, some of them are going to be voting for the first time, [and] many of them are not party members.
“How, in any event, do we determine who is a party member and who isn’t? Even if you are running a manual process, how do you do that? You can’t. It’s unlikely to yield you any result.
“It is a process you have to apply for this loan electronically. If you don’t have a name, you can’t apply for this loan. You provide your matriculation number; you have to be in a public institution,” he said.
The NELFUND boss said the allegation also failed to take into account the nature of the beneficiaries targeted by the programme.
He noted that many students accessing the loans are young people who have not yet participated in an election. Some are also not members of any political party.Executive Branch
Sawyerr therefore maintained that using political affiliation as a basis for deciding beneficiaries would be impractical under the existing system.
He said NELFUND’s focus is on Nigerian students who meet the conditions for the loan and are enrolled in eligible public tertiary institutions.
Sawyerr described the demand for the scheme as “overwhelming”, saying many students and their families were struggling to meet the financial demands of tertiary education.
“The demand has been overwhelming, because clearly a lot of people have struggled to get into these institutions,” he said. “They are hanging on by the skin of their teeth to stay in the institution, and this programme came as a rescue for them.”
He disclosed that NELFUND had so far disbursed about N162 billion in upkeep allowances to students.
The fund is also examining application and disbursement figures as demand increases, with the agency seeking to understand the financial requirements needed to sustain the programme.
The student loan initiative was introduced by the Federal Government as part of efforts to reduce financial barriers to higher education.
President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loans Act into law in April 2024, paving the way for the current NELFUND structure. The scheme provides interest-free financial support to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.
It covers approved institutional charges and upkeep support for qualified beneficiaries.
The programme was designed to give students access to funding without requiring them to depend entirely on their parents or guardians to remain in school.
NELFUND has repeatedly stressed the importance of an electronic process in managing applications and disbursements.
The system allows applicants to submit their information for verification before their applications are processed.
Sawyerr further insisted that the system does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity or gender.
“We have a system that is focused on people who are Nigerians and meet the standard. The system doesn’t recognise your gender. There is no bias in the system at the front end or the back end.
“This is a system that doesn’t care whether you are of one tribe or the other. This system does not have a view or an opinion on whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, or an African traditional religionist; it doesn’t want to know.”
The NELFUND chief also spoke about the impact of the scheme on student retention.
He said available figures indicated that the programme had contributed to a reduction in the number of students dropping out of tertiary institutions, with the reduction put at about 20 per cent.
Sawyerr also addressed concerns surrounding repayment of the loans.
He maintained that beneficiaries would not be subjected to an unreasonable repayment burden, noting that repayment would be tied to their ability to pay after completing their studies.
Under the current structure, repayment is expected to commence two years after beneficiaries complete the National Youth Service Corps programme.
The NELFUND boss also disclosed that funds President Tinubu announced would be recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and channelled into the student loan scheme had not yet been received by the fund.
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