By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has awarded degrees to six inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, promoting rehabilitation and reintegration through education.

The graduates earned two Master’s degrees in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution and four Bachelor’s degrees in Peace Studies, Political Science, Criminology, and Security Studies.

Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, praised the inmates’ resilience and described education as a tool for transforming lives, building capacity, and preparing inmates for a productive future.

The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen, urged the graduates to be ambassadors of the custodial centre, pursue further education, and use their certificates to improve their lives despite stigma.

Representing NOUN, Dr. Francis Enobore highlighted the open and distance learning model as a pathway of hope, enabling even marginalised groups to access education. He pledged to expand similar programmes across custodial centres nationwide.

Graduate representative Abba Kyari expressed gratitude to NOUN and NCoS, noting that studying in custody restored their sense of purpose. The event also featured counselling, skills development, and community reintegration sessions.

By Sarah Sam Adda

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has begun developing a national security master plan to boost safety and crisis preparedness across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Chairman of TETFund’s Board of Trustees, Aminu Masari, announced the initiative on Tuesday at a two-day workshop in Abuja.

He warned that campuses face rising threats, including banditry, kidnapping and cyberattacks and said the framework will enhance prevention, detection and emergency response.

“What we begin here today is not merely another conference. It is a foundational step toward developing a forward-looking security master plan for tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” Masari said.

The plan will focus on intelligence-led security, proactive risk assessment, crisis management, and the use of modern physical and digital security tools.

Masari added that cooperation among schools, security agencies and host communities will be strengthened.

TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, noted that many campuses remain “highly porous” and vulnerable to attacks.

He said previous risk mapping identified weak emergency response structures, stressing the need for better coordination among the military, police and NSCDC.

“We need to sensitise everyone that this risk is real,” Echono said.

Findings from the workshop are expected to guide long-term security policy and investment across tertiary institutions nationwide.

By Huldah Shado

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has urged affluent Nigerians to channel more resources into education and healthcare to support national development.

Babalola made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), led by First Vice President Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu.

The visit was disclosed in a statement by ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila.

He said private investment remained crucial to improving human capital, noting that ABUAD and its Multi-System Hospital had made significant contributions to functional education, quality healthcare, medical training and reducing the need for foreign medical trips.

Babalola lamented that many wealthy Nigerians with the capacity to transform society had chosen not to invest in these critical sectors.

“There are many wealthy Nigerians who can do better than what I am doing, but they have chosen not to,” he said, adding that some of the world’s greatest universities were founded by individuals without formal degrees.

He urged Nigerians to embrace generosity, compassion and communal responsibility, especially amid rising economic hardship.

“Many Nigerians do not know what they will eat today. That makes it imperative for all of us to learn how to give,” he said, noting that even small acts of kindness, paying school fees, offering a smile, or giving N10,000 to someone in need could make a lasting difference.

Babalola reaffirmed that sustained private-sector support for education and healthcare is essential to reducing poverty and promoting long-term national stability.