The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency of Ebonyi State in the National Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, has attracted, constructed and commissioned the first-ever National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) campus for the inmates of Abakaliki Correctional Center in the State.
Hon. Ogah, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, said he was moved into carrying out the project to support the education of inmates as well as to give them hope of reformation, better their lives at the end of their jail terms.
The federal lawmaker, who commissioned the project as part of events marking his 48th birthday anniversary, noted that prison inmates also deserve to pursue their education despite being in the prison, adding that many inmates are intelligent and deserve to accomplish their life-time ambition.
“This is the first-ever National Open University campus situated inside the correctional center. I was moved to construct the university campus to support the education of the inmates, to show them that all hope is not lost and that they can still have access to education while they are serving jail terms,” he stated.
He noted that he was collaborating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and promised to commence an outreach campaign to all inmates in the Abakaliki correctional center on the need to abstain from drugs and crime.
Hon. Ogah cautioned the inmates, who have been found guilty of one or two crimes to seek true reformation and repentance, while urging those who are still awaiting trial to remain good citizens.
Shortly after the commissioning, a philanthropist, Chief Emeka Ogazi, pledged to support the newly commissioned NOUN Campus with 24 computers to advance the learning process of the inmates.
The lawmaker also donated free drugs, food items, and huge sum of money to improve the health and welfare of the inmates and promised to renovate the dilapidated infrastructure within the Custodial Center and make it conducive for human habitation.
Hon. Ogah also commissioned other projects, including roads, four different bungalows for widows, the Ndende Bridge, civic centres in the constituency, and inspected ongoing road projects.
The lawmaker also visited orphanages, the old people’s homes, artisans, and commercial motorcycle operators within and outside the State capital and distributed food items and cash to them to alleviate their hardships.