Education

Prof. Dahida Harps On Strategic Leadership As ALC Inducts New Students

Published

4 months ago

November 10, 2025

The Director of Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC), Yakubu Gowon University, formerly University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Professor Philip Dahida, has underscored the critical role of strategic leadership development anchored on values in addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

Speaking during the 7th Induction Ceremony for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master’s (MSc) students on Thursday, Prof. Dahida reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to academic excellence, training and nurturing of future leaders.

He emphasised that with the right values, knowledge and leadership mindset for students trained at the Centre can become catalysts for the kind of leaders Nigeria and the African continent have been yearning for. While lamenting that “the nation faces enormous challenges from governance deficit to policy inconsistencies, from social inequality to erosion of public trust, yet in these challenges lie eminent opportunities”.

Prof Dahida commended the Vice Chancellor of the University and staff of the Centre for their steadfastness and priceless contributions to shaping the nation’s future leaders. Additionally, he tasked the students to adhere to the code of conduct of the Centre and be good ambassadors of the institution.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the induction and oath-taking of Course 7 PhD and MSc students at the Abuja Leadership Centre.

“Today marks not only the beginning of a new academic journey for our inductees in PhD and MSc in Public Governance and Leadership and Policy and Strategic Studies, respectively, but a renewed commitment to leadership excellence and integrity, national service for which the Centre stands.

“Over the years, we (ALC) have remained steadfast in our innovations to develop a new cadre of leaders capable of addressing the complex challenges of governance, policy and intellectual transformation of Nigeria and across Africa.

“To the inductees, your admission into the 7th Course is not a chance, but a recognition of your potential. You have proven capacity and willingness to embrace higher leadership. You are joining a committee of scholars, reformers, and visionists who believe that leadership is not just about privilege but about purpose, not about power but about responsibility to the people and the general public good.
“Our nation and continent face enormous challenges from governance deficit to policy inconsistencies, from social inequality to erosion of public trust, yet in these challenges lie eminent opportunities.

“Think of yourself as architects of a new future. I urge you to approach your time here with a serious purpose, engage your lecturers and colleagues with intellectual dexterity. Let every seminar, workshop, class participation, group work and dialogue refine your understanding and stewardship and let your understanding within and outside the Centre reflect the highest standard of character and professionalism.

“To our distinguished faculty and staff members, I thank you for mentoring, guidance and inspiring students. To our partners and friends, your support continues to strengthen our resolve to build a leadership institution of global repute.

“Finally, to our inductees, as you wear the bandage of Abuja Leadership Centre, carry it with pride and also with humility – remember that true leadership is measured not by titles or accolades but by the positive impact you have made on others,” Prof. Dahida stated.

On his part, the keynote speaker at the event, Major-General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), speaking on the theme: “Strategic Leadership and Nation Building: Driving Transformation Through Vision and Values”, decried that the dearth of strategic leadership in Nigeria continues to cause policy, development and governance problems and leading to decades of poor outcomes.

Onoja averred that ‘Nigeria’s governance challenges, ranging from institutional fragility, economic disparity, ethno-religious polarisation and policy inconsistency, underscore the urgent need for strategic leadership anchored on vision and values.

Adding that, Nigeria’s developmental experience has been hindered by inconsistent leadership vision, policy discontinuity and weak value internalisation.

“Leadership in Nigeria, despite successive blueprints like the vision 2010 and 2020, implementation deficit and corruption have constrained their impacts.

“In a nation characterised by unemployment, complex political diversity, youth unemployment, complex political diversity, and institutional weakness, visionary governance is not a mere wishful thinking.

“Strategic leadership rooted in values remains the cornerstone of nation-building and transformative governance in Nigeria.

“As Nigeria aspires into vision 2050, it must prioritise leadership integrity, institutional leadership and citizens’ engagement.

Onoja recommended that Nigeria adopt Rwanda’s accountability models and Singapore’s meritocratic ethos, saying, “these could enhance the translation of national vision into tangible nation-building outcomes.

He suggested that Nigeria must follow the path of Rwanda and Singapore to attain greater height moving forward, suggesting that: “Policy coherence and institutional synergy must be deepened across government ministries, departments and agencies.

“Ethical leadership framework should be codified into performance evaluation, and there should be government decentralisation.

“Strategic leaders at the subnational level should be empowered to design development plans that align with national priorities, and Nigeria must embed leadership succession planning to ensure continuity.

“Comparative insights from Rwanda and Singapore affirm that transformation is achievable when vision is strategically implemented. Ultimately, the future of Nigeria is in producing leaders with the courage to maximise its potential,” Onoja advised.

The Abuja Leadership Centre is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to enhancing public governance and leadership in Nigeria and beyond.

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Education

Historic Matriculation: EUN Unveils ₦50bn Research Endowment

Published

7 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Chancellor of the European University of Nigeria (EUN), Nicholas Ukachukwu, has announced the establishment of a ₦50 billion research endowment fund aimed at driving innovation and cutting-edge research across specialised disciplines in the institution.

Ukachukwu disclosed this during an interview on the sidelines of the university’s maiden matriculation ceremony, explaining that the fund would support research in critical sectors such as medicine, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and other technical fields.

According to him, the initiative is designed to ensure that research carried out at the university produces practical solutions with real societal impact rather than remaining purely theoretical.

“We set up this university to be a centre for research, and the ₦50 billion endowment fund will focus on special categories of research and disciplines,” he said.

The chancellor explained that the university intends to support research from the discovery stage to practical application, particularly in areas such as drug development and technological innovation.

He noted that breakthroughs in these areas require specialised expertise, modern equipment and sustained investment, adding that the institution is committed to creating an enabling environment for researchers and students.

Ukachukwu emphasised that the research culture at EUN would be driven by results and societal relevance.

“I cannot call people, including myself, to put together ₦50 billion and allow research outcomes to gather dust on shelves. Whatever we invest in must produce results and impact lives,” he said.

He added that the university aims to nurture students who think beyond conventional classroom learning and develop innovative solutions to societal challenges.

Ukachukwu further revealed that the institution is building a centre of excellence equipped with advanced technology and highly skilled professionals, noting that government institutions may eventually collaborate with the university to benefit from its facilities and research outputs.

According to him, the university expects to begin seeing significant outcomes from its research investments within the next one to five years.Earlier in his welcome address at the matriculation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of EUN, Emmanuel Ibezim, urged the pioneer students to pursue academic excellence, discipline and innovation throughout their stay at the institution.

Ibezim described the event as historic, noting that it marked the formal admission of the university’s first set of students.He said the university is committed to producing graduates who are intellectually sound, ethically grounded and globally competitive.

“Your admission into this university is a testament to your hard work and potential. However, admission is only the first step; what truly matters is what you do with the opportunity before you,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor assured the students that the institution would provide quality teaching, modern laboratories, digital learning resources and mentorship to support their academic development.

He urged them to embrace critical thinking, creativity and innovation while making effective use of the university’s learning facilities.Ibezim also stressed that the university maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice, cultism, harassment, drug abuse and other forms of misconduct, advising students to strictly adhere to the institution’s rules and regulations.

He further encouraged the students to participate in approved extracurricular activities, sports and leadership programmes to build teamwork and leadership skills that would prepare them for life beyond the classroom.

The Vice-Chancellor also assured parents and guardians that the university management remains committed to improving teaching, research, infrastructure, innovation and student welfare.

A highlight of the ceremony was the administration of the matriculation oath and the signing of the matriculation register by the pioneer students, formally admitting them into the academic community of the university.

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