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Open and Distance Learning for Sustainable Development

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imprisoned along with convicted criminals. For example, some people who were arrested in place<br />

of their family members that the police could not locate, could be educated on how to en<strong>for</strong>ce<br />

their human rights as enrolled students of Law programmes in ODL programme. Such people<br />

could seek <strong>for</strong> legal assistance from Legal Aid Council or from the Amnesty International body to<br />

take their cases up with the Government in order to gain their freedom.<br />

Benefits of ODL Programme in Nigerian Prisons<br />

It is hoped that Nigerian Prison inmate learners may improve their education <strong>and</strong> be employed<br />

when they are eventually discharged from the prison.<br />

Nigerian inmates would also learn from the technical systems values education that is faster,<br />

cheaper <strong>and</strong> competitive than lecturing – teaching method in education.<br />

ODL which is technologically driven would enhance the inmates used of ICT <strong>and</strong> encourage them<br />

to have human values by participating actively in learning process.<br />

The inmates would be able to access data through the internet. It would teach them how to have<br />

link with other countries’ inmates’ re<strong>for</strong>m activities that would benefit them.<br />

Their interaction with staff of the programme will psychologically reduce their feeling neglect<br />

Besides, since they are engaged in learning, it is believed that suicide would be minimised among<br />

the inmates of Nigerian prisons.<br />

ODL education could also help inmates to participate in business transactions with other<br />

Nigerians. <strong>Learning</strong> inmates could also be used as reservation clerks on keyboards <strong>for</strong><br />

businessmen in Nigeria as it is done in the United States to answer phone calls <strong>for</strong> them. 10<br />

Through ODL, prison inmates could generate new economic activity <strong>for</strong> their country anywhere<br />

in the world. This system of education would encourage them to adjust to the new world<br />

economics <strong>and</strong> embrace latest technology which they <strong>and</strong> the country could benefit from.<br />

The Role of Government in the use of ODL system in Prison Re<strong>for</strong>ms<br />

Federal, State <strong>and</strong> Local governments in Nigeria need to establish an elaborate prison inmates’<br />

learners programme in ODL <strong>for</strong> prison inmates. Their contributions towards the laudable<br />

programme would enable prisoners gain the knowledge of educational empowerment in the<br />

re<strong>for</strong>m process. This would probably reduce crowding among others in Nigerian prisons.<br />

The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Empowering Nigerian Prison Inmates<br />

All non-governmental organisations in Nigeria should also contribute their own quota in kind,<br />

finance, material <strong>and</strong> spiritual needs towards the re<strong>for</strong>m of Nigerian prisons.<br />

The non-governmental organisations should engage in seeking Amnesty <strong>for</strong> the detainees <strong>and</strong><br />

convicts in Nigerian prison at all times. With better re<strong>for</strong>ms, they would engage in meaningful<br />

<strong>and</strong> gainful business in their societies instead of their <strong>for</strong>mer criminal business which had led<br />

them into prisons or detainee cells.<br />

The Church <strong>and</strong> Mosques should also engage themselves in spiritual re<strong>for</strong>m of Nigerian detainees<br />

<strong>and</strong> inmates in prisons by catering <strong>for</strong> their needs under a collaborative arrangement with ODL<br />

counsellors.<br />

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