Joel Ajayi
stakeholder in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Emeka Ndubuisi Iloegbunam, along with three others, was awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Policy and Strategic Studies, as well as in Public Governance and Leadership, on Monday at the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
The institution conferred the academic awards after confirming that the candidates had successfully met all requirements, including the defense of their theses on November 3, 2025, pending approval from the University Senate.
Emeka Ndubuisi Iloegbunam, alongside Ekaete Alma Okpalefe and Mohammed Onikola Oyawoye, received doctoral degrees in Policy and Strategic Studies. Meanwhile, Mariah Olasehinde Nkem, the CEO of Marbays Communications and presenter of “Know Your Representative” on TVC, earned a PhD in Public Governance and Leadership.
After the event, Professor Rafatu Abdulhamid, Deputy Dean of the Postgraduate School, praised the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Professor Philip Dahida, and his team for creating an excellent environment for training and educating citizens at the postgraduate level.
Professor Abdulhamid also commended the external examiner, Professor Chika Oguonu from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for passionately and professionally evaluating the doctoral candidates. She congratulated the awardees for successfully defending their theses to the satisfaction of the external examiner.
She urged the Centre to maintain the quality of its graduates and sustain its current momentum. She emphasized the university’s interest in the programmes at the Centre, given their significance in developing and shaping future leaders in society.
“I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you who have been awarded a PhD today. This is indeed a remarkable achievement, and we are thrilled that you have successfully defended your theses. Kudos to you again, as your presentation today has demonstrated your authorship of the research work.
“We must commend the external examiner and all staff of the Centre. Let us continue to sustain the momentum in our efforts here and ensure the quality and dexterity of our programmes,” Abdulhamid stated.
In his response, Emeka Iloegbunam, one of the award recipients with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, shared that his primary motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree was to expand his knowledge and improve Nigeria’s oil sector.
Iloegbunam revealed that his doctoral thesis focused on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and its challenges. He opined that the law could only succeed if it incorporated attributes of transparency, accountability, stakeholder acceptance, and societal trust; otherwise, it would likely fail like previous laws.
Regarding the potential of Nigeria’s state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), he advised the administration of President Bola Tinubu to ensure that NNPCL operates as a true commercial oil firm with reduced political interference, praising the caliber of recent appointees to the NNPCL board.
“I believe that whether in private or public life, we must establish clear policies and strategic methodologies to achieve our goals. The challenges in our society stem from a lack of sound policies and effective implementation strategies.
“For NNPCL to function better, we need behavioral reorientation. Based on my research, if NNPC improves, Nigeria improves; NNPC is a microcosm of Nigeria. If the company succeeds, it signifies prosperity for all, which motivated my research on how NNPC can enhance its operations.
“My advice to the federal government is to make NNPC truly commercial, which is crucial. This requires reducing political interference and allowing the company to function as a profit-making entity. The government must move beyond rent-seeking.
“It takes discipline for the president to achieve this. Look at entities like Saudi Aramco, which operate without government interference. We also have an example in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility in Bonny Island, which is managed like a private firm. Congratulations to Nigeria; President Tinubu made a commendable decision with the recent management team he appointed, but they must be allowed to work without political interference,” Iloegbunam 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.
