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UniAbuja Awards PhD To Former Lawmaker, 3 Others

Published

12 months ago

November 6, 2025

Cyril Ogar

Former Akwa Ibom State lawmaker Hon. Patrick Nathan Ifon, alongside three others, was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Governance and Leadership on Tuesday at the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.

According to the external examiner, Professor Chika Oguonu from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, the academic achievements were conferred after the candidates successfully fulfilled all requirements, including defending their theses on November 4, 2025, and pending approval of the University’s Senate.

Other recipients of the Doctoral degrees in Public Governance and Leadership include Obichi Godwin Obiajunwa, Ibiam Okechukwu Owora and Mohammed Hadi.

After the event, the Centre’s Director, Professor Philip Dahida, commended the external examiner for her professionalism, knowledge transfer, and commitment to evaluating the candidates’ work.

He charged all graduates to heed the advice of both external and internal examiners, while emphasising the need for them to put what they have learnt into practice in the wider society.

In his remarks, Hon. Patrick Ifon, who hitherto represented Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, lauded the institution for enhancing his capacity and vowed to impact his environment positively with the acquired knowledge.

Speaking on his thesis, which dwelt on the media in Nigeria and issues around agenda setting, the former lawmaker decried the challenges affecting media personnel from delivering on their mandate as watchdogs of the government.

He called on the government to collaborate with the Nigerian media and see them as partners rather than enemies. Adding that the government must invest in training and retraining of media persons to encourage balanced reportage. While urging members of the Nigerian media industry to maintain high ethical standards.

“The media is supposed to be like the gatekeepers in society, and is supposed to be keeping the government on its toes, but if the problems that militate against the media for a long time remain, then certainly it will not be able to function.

“The military must be transparent with the media and vice versa. they must relate in a way that makes them better professionals.

“My advice will be that the government should see the media as partners in progress, and once that is done, then it will be easier for them to deal with the media in a very transparent way and give them information,” Ifon stated.

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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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

1 week ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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