Education

Ex-Edo Rep, 8 Others Bag PhD, MSc From UniAbuja

Published

3 months ago

September 10, 2025

The Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees to five students and Master’s degrees to another three students in Public Governance and Leadership, as well as in Policy and Strategic Studies, on Tuesday.

Among the recipients of the Doctoral degrees was Patrick Aselumele Ikhariale, a former member of the House of Representatives for Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben, who earned a PhD in Public Governance and Leadership. Babatunde Anthony Osho, a seasoned business executive with decades of experience in the petroleum industry, also received a doctorate in Policy and Strategic Studies.

The other recipients of Doctoral degrees were Ibrahim Barau Idris-Galadima of Izom, Onyemaobi Sebastian Okechukwu Monday, and Timothy Emeje, trio of whom earned PhDs in Public Governance and Leadership. Additionally, Apeh Unubi Joseph was awarded a PhD in Policy and Strategic Studies..

The three students awarded Master’s degrees in Policy and Strategic Studies were Ijeoma Mary Ukpabi, Babatunde Akpeji, and Omoikhnu Omokhodion Airenakho.

According to the external examiner, Professor Akongbowa Bramwell Amadasun, these academic achievements were conferred after the candidates successfully met requirements, including defending their theses and dissertations on September 9, 2025.

Following the event, the Director of the Centre, Professor Philip Dahida, commended the university’s School of Postgraduate Studies and the external examiner for their professionalism, knowledge transfer, and dedication in evaluating the candidates’ work. He urged all the graduates to heed the advice of both external and internal examiners, emphasizing the importance of applying their research knowledge to improve Nigerian society.

In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Patrick Ikhariale praised the leadership and staff of the university for creating an environment conducive to knowledge-based growth. He expressed his commitment to applying his research for national benefit.

“It’s a significant day, and I’m very grateful to God. I thank the university, especially the ALC for providing us with a supportive environment. The cooperation from both academic and non-academic staff has been exceptional, fostering encouragement and academic guidance.

“I’m proud of my academic achievements. After completing other levels of education, I chose to pursue a PhD in Public Governance and Leadership for compelling reasons. Knowledge is invaluable and serves as a powerful tool for the future,” said the former lawmaker.

Similarly, Babatunde Anthony Osho pledged to use the knowledge gained in public service to support government policy formulation, highlighting the importance of continuous training for leaders.

“I plan to utilize the knowledge I’ve gained to improve society and contribute to public service. I believe we should emphasize retraining for our leaders in policy and strategic studies as part of our leadership curriculum. The Abuja Leadership Centre has provided me with this opportunity, for which I am very grateful,” Osho stated.

Ibrahim Barau Idris-Galadima Izom also expressed his gratitude: “I thank the Centre for equipping me with valuable knowledge. I am confident that what I have learned will benefit both my personal growth and my community.

“Our country faces significant leadership challenges, and I recommend this institution to our leaders. It is crucial for them to understand what true leadership entails and to be prepared before assuming positions of authority,” he emphasized.

Other academics who attended the event included Professor Rafatu Abdulhamid, Professor Ikenna Alumona, Professor Joseph Golwa, Professor Banjo Adewale, Dr. Yusuf Lawal, Dr. Success Ademeso, Dr. B.T. Adejumo, Dr. Tunde Akande, Dr. Eze Ukauwa, Dr. Bulus Maiyaki, Dr. Salem Iyorwuese, Dr. Tochukwu Okeke, and Dr. Adeyanju T. Peter, among others.

The Abuja Leadership Centre at Yakubu Gowon University is recognized as a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to enhancing public governance and leadership both in Nigeria and beyond.

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Education

Athena Centre Appointed to NGREN Board as Federal Government Deepens Data-Driven Governance

Published

1 day ago

November 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN)/Tertiary Education Research Applications and Services (TERAS). NgREN -Nigeria’s national research and education backbone – provides high-speed connectivity, shared digital services, and collaboration infrastructure for universities and research institutions, while TERAS powers the digital applications that support research, data exchange, and digital learning across the tertiary system.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the center’s Media and Communications Officer Paul Liam.

The new NgREN/TERAS Board was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the Nigeria National EdTech Strategy Mid-Term Co-Creation Workshop, hosted with support from Mastercard Foundation and the World Bank Group.

The Board includes the Executive Secretaries of NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and TETFund; representatives of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts; and major digital infrastructure stakeholders such as NCC, Galaxy Backbone, and USPF. The Athena Centre joins the Board as the civil society voice.

In his remarks, Dr. Alausa acknowledged the Centre’s role in shaping national transparency reforms, noting that the Ministry’s Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal (FTIGTP) drew inspiration from Athena’s research and advocacy.

He expressed confidence that the reconstituted Board will deliver measurable improvements within two years to strengthen Nigeria’s research ecosystem and digital readiness.

Representing the Centre on the Board, its Chancellor, Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, commended the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and evidence-based reform.Reaffirming the Ministry’s digital direction, Dr. Alausa stated: “For the first time, Nigeria is building a unified data architecture for basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions. You cannot reform what you cannot measure, and we are determined to measure what matters.”

Echoing the need for interoperability, Dr. Tijani emphasised the importance of shared digital infrastructure, noting:“Digital transformation fails when systems operate in silos. Our priority is a national architecture where platforms talk to each other and every school is connected.”

Chidoka welcomed the digital innovation underway but stressed the importance of deeper inclusion of state governments, who own and manage most Nigerian schools, in planning, implementation, and financing.

According to him:“For education to succeed, states must invest, lead, and commit. The Federal Government must coordinate and support, but it cannot carry the burden of school management alone.”

The Athena Centre reaffirmed its commitment to supporting federal and state governments in strengthening education data systems, digital governance, and transparent accountability.Media Contact:

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