Education
UniAbuja Awards PhDs to 7 in Governance, Leadership, and Strategic Policy Studies
The Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) at the University of Abuja on Wednesday awarded fresh Doctoral Degrees in Public Governance and Leadership, as well as in Policy and Strategic Studies, to seven Nigerians.
This academic achievement follows the successful defense of their theses on July 9, 2025, at the Centre, which is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Leadership and Public Governance.
According to the Director of the Center, Prof. Philip Dahida, the event notably marks the second time students have defended their doctoral theses since the establishment of the institute.
Prof. Dahida also, in his remark, commended both the internal and external examiners, as well as the efforts of all the postgraduate students who defended their theses. He assured everyone of the Centre’s commitment to strengthening leadership and public service in Nigeria through education.
Five candidates were awarded doctoral degrees in Public Governance and Leadership, including James Abel, Agatha Chukwudumebi Odita, Janet Asuquo Amba, Illikannu Christabel Chinweokwu Gentle, and Anyanwu Onyebuchi Henry. At the same time, the duo of JohnKennedy Chukwudi Chime and Ukpabi Iheanyichukwu Hilary received doctoral degrees in Policy and Strategic Studies.
Reacting to this academic milestone, one of the awardees, James Abel, described it as a “lifetime fulfillment” and praised the staff and management of the Centre for fostering an environment that promotes leadership and governance through education.
James expressed his intention to use the knowledge gained from the doctoral programme to enhance the participation of young people in governance and leadership, particularly in Kogi State and across Nigeria.
“This is one of the happiest days of my life. Achieving this milestone has been my dream since childhood, and I am committed to using what I have learned to support the youth in the Confluence State and the nation at large.
“I commend the leadership of ALC; they have accomplished a lot, and this is the second set of graduations for PhDs. More are to come, and the Centre is taking measures to ensure it remains the best among its peers. This is indeed heartwarming for us, and we look forward to ALC becoming an example for other institutions,” James stated.
Another awardee, Agatha Chukwudumebi Odita, shared her plans to apply her research, which focused on women’s inclusion in leadership and governance, to advocate for the deliberate inclusion of more women in political and public offices.
Odita praised the Centre for equipping citizens with leadership knowledge, stressing that “the Professor Dahida-led ALC has done well.” She pledged to continue advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership roles and to leverage her doctoral knowledge to positively impact her immediate environment and Nigeria as a whole.
“Although many women have been mobilized during elections and have campaigned actively, their efforts often do not translate into actual power. I envision a scenario where women can emerge as leaders in Nigeria, which could be achieved through proper inclusion.
“We need to adopt new approaches and change our mindset, taking inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Senegal, which have successfully integrated women into political leadership.
“I commend The Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja, under the leadership of Prof. Dahida, for strategically raising and developing leaders capable of achieving effective governance,” Odita stated.
On his part, JohnKennedy Chukwudi Chime mentioned that his doctoral program is aimed at helping government establishments in Nigeria improve organizational practices and public policy, as his research addressed challenges within the public service.
He lamented the persistent issues faced by the public service, which are exacerbated by inadequate capacity building from government institutions.
“My focus was on performance management, aimed at improving services and decision-making, which should enhance public trust.
“I analyzed the gaps in public service, particularly the failure to align key performance indicators with strategic objectives. Many organizations in the public sector are applying the balanced scorecard strategy poorly. Unfortunately, most capacity-building programmes focus more on welfare rather than addressing true training needs,” Chime criticized.
Education
Igbinedion University, EduTech Global Partner On Digital Education, Access
Mr. Femi Shonubi, Co-Founder/CTO – EduTech Global
Cyril Ogar
Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.
Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.
The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.
Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.
He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.
“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”
In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.
The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”
“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.
Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.
Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.
“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”
General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.
She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.
Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.
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