News
Lawmaker, 6 Others Bag PhD, MSc In Public Governance and Leadership
Joel Ajayi
The Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC), at the Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, on Tuesday awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees to six of its students and a Master’s Degree to another student in Public Governance and Leadership.
Notable recipients of the Doctoral Degree include Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Effiong Bob, the House Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and representative of the Nsit-Ubium State Constituency, and Samson Imoni, a senior public servant at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The other PhD graduates are Skari Margaret Dimax, Unuyu Asuquo Eyo, Bernard Akpa, and Alhassan Adamu. While Okutepa Usman Danladi bagged a Master’s Degree in the same field.
According to Professor Philip Dahida, the Director of the Centre, these academic achievements were awarded after the candidates successfully met all requirements, including the defense of their theses and dissertations on August 26, 2025.
Professor Dahida commended the university’s School of Postgraduate Studies and the
examiner for the display of professionalism, knowledge transfer, and passion in evaluating the doctoral and master’s candidates.
He however tasked the recipients to apply their research work to improve the Nigerian society at large, while acknowledging and lauding their resilience and efforts in pursuing knowledge.
In his reaction, Rt. Hon. Otobong Effiong Bob described the doctoral award as a great academic milestone, while revealing that his research work which dwelt on the nature and challenges of the shareholding system in Nigeria can help address the problems and bridge the existing gaps.
The lawmaker commended the Center for providing the enabling environment for knowledge acquisition and “proper tutoring” of master’s and doctoral candidates.
“Today is a significant day for me as a person, and for my family because coincidentally this will be the first PhD in my family. It’s a significant day because it marks a great academic milestone.
“I’m eternally grateful to God. I’m also very grateful to the management of the University of Abuja, most especially the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Professor Dahida.
“There’s a lot of dedication, there’s a lot of academic skill that is needed for you to be able to get to this level. So I thank the Centre again and all the lecturers that we’ve come in contact with because they’ve impacted greatly in my life and on my academic pursuit. So I’m really grateful.
“My research topic is on the nature and challenges of the shareholding system in Nigeria. And from my research we were able to identify gaps in the already existing literature. It would help strengthen the regulatory functions of the regulatory bodies within the shareholding system in Nigeria.
“So, we look forward to the work contributing to protecting shareholders in the way they should actually be protected to help avoid them losing the money they invest in shares.
“I eventually would like to see this research work published and I hope at that point that those in the position of power and those that have the opportunity and ability to be able to push such reforms would refer to this particular piece of work to be able to make meaningful change in this particular sector,” Otobong stated.
On his part, Samson Imoni, a staff of TETFund, described the academic award as a -noble feat that will propel him to see how he can midwife change in the affairs of the larger society, While decrying the impact of poor quality of leaders in the country, he urged for a deliberate training of people in leadership positions in public governance and leadership.
“The attainment of this noble feat will propel me to see how I can midwife a change in the affairs of the larger society because it’s all about public governance and leadership. If you look around, you will see that there is generally a leadership deficit in our country, even the followers may not be performing excellently well in terms of followership, hence there is need for the leadership to be on the driver’s seat so that the followers can naturally follow.
“There should be deliberate effort in getting leaders to acquire the kind of knowledge available at the Abuja Leadership Centre because the buck stops on the leader’s table. So, there is every need for us to enlighten them on what exactly they should do in order to transform the society because any mistake from them can be chaotic,” Imoni asserted.
The Abuja Leadership Centre at the University of Abuja is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to enhancing public governance and leadership both in Nigeria and beyond.
News
FG Commits To National Development With Major Contract Agreements — Umahi
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has again signed landmark contract agreements with four (4) construction firms to execute critical road projects across the country, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The contract signing ceremony, held on Thursday at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, marks another major step in the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering durable, sustainable road infrastructure that enhances connectivity, stimulates economic growth, and improves the quality of life of Nigerians.
The four contractors and their respective projects are as follows:
1. Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited – Reconstruction of Mando (Kaduna) – Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State,
2. Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited – Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun States,
3. Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road in Osun State and
4. Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo States.
Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, described the projects as strategic national infrastructure designed to boost economic activities, improve transportation efficiency, and strengthen national integration. He noted that the reconstruction of the Mando (Kaduna) –Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State holds special significance, as it was one of the key infrastructure development commitments made by His Excellency, President Tinubu during the 2022/2023 electioneering campaigns. According to the Minister, the present administration remains resolute in its determination to deliver world-class infrastructure that will stand the test of time. “Our vision is to build roads that will last for generations. Under the Renewed Hope administration, we are determined to deliver infrastructure that can serve Nigerians for up to 100 years through the adoption of rigid pavement (concrete) technology,” Umahi stated.
The Minister commended the selected contractors for their competence, track records, and proven capacity, emphasising the Federal Government’s confidence in indigenous contractors. He particularly praised Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited, Truecrete Solutions Limited, and other indigenous firms for their commendable performances on previous projects across the country.
Umahi charged all contractors to mobilise to their respective project sites immediately and commence work without delay, stressing that the Ministry expects measurable progress within the stipulated timelines.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, who formally signed the contract agreements, described the occasion as the successful completion of the procurement process and the official commencement of project implementation.
He commended the leadership of the Ministry for its commitment to ensuring that projects reached the execution stage and reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to effective monitoring, quality assurance, and timely delivery.
Also speaking, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Mr. Clement Ogbuagu, presented details of the awarded contracts as follows:
1. Reconstruction of Mando–Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna State
Contractor: Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited
Contract Sum: ₦178,116,787,162.00
Length: 122 Kilometres
2. Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road, Oyo and Ogun States
Contractor: JRB Construction Company Limited,
Contract Sum: ₦295,996,609,992.77
Length: 114.5 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent)
3. Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road, Osun State
Contractor: Truecrete Solutions Limited
Contract Sum: ₦101,806,585,825.90
Length: 70 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent) and
4. Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road, Osun State
Contractor: Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited
Contract Sum: ₦114,854,477,607.93
Length: 73 Kilometres
All the projects will be executed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to building durable, cost-effective, and sustainable road infrastructure nationwide.
The ceremony represents another significant milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road network and accelerate national economic development.
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