FUL, NILDS Matriculate 66 PhD Students as Ibileye Reaffirms Commitment to Academic Excellence

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL), in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), National Assembly, Abuja, has matriculated 66 candidates into the fourth cohort of its joint doctoral programmes for the 2025/2026 academic session, with a renewed commitment to academic rigour, quality research and national development.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the NILDS Secretariat, National Assembly, Abuja, the Vice-Chancellor of FUL, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, described the growing partnership between the University and NILDS as a model of institutional collaboration built on continuity, excellence and shared vision.

Professor Ibileye said the matriculation of another cohort demonstrated the confidence that senior public officials, legislators and professionals continue to repose in the joint doctoral programmes, noting that the collaboration had become a nationally respected platform for advanced scholarship in governance and legislative studies.

He acknowledged the contributions of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwumi, under whose administration the Institute of Governance and Development Studies (IGDS) was established and the partnership with NILDS was initiated.

The Vice-Chancellor recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions was signed on July 25, 2023, when he served as Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies alongside Professor Matthew Ola-Rotimi Ajayi, who was then Director of the Institute of Governance and Development Studies.

He observed that both officers now occupy higher leadership positions while continuing to provide direction for the collaboration, describing the development as evidence of institutional continuity.

Professor Ibileye also commended the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, for his unwavering commitment to the partnership, describing his leadership as instrumental to the steady growth of the programmes.

Addressing the newly admitted doctoral candidates, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that the programmes were designed to meet the full academic requirements of the Senate of the Federal University Lokoja and the regulations of the National Universities Commission.

He explained that every candidate would undergo rigorous coursework, proposal defence, originality and similarity assessments, internal seminars, pre-field and post-field defences, as well as examination by competent external examiners before the award of the doctoral degree.

According to him, no student would enjoy preferential treatment on account of status or public office, stressing that every candidate would be subjected to the same academic standards.

Professor Ibileye said the University remained determined to preserve the integrity of its academic qualifications by ensuring that every doctorate awarded represents genuine scholarship and an original contribution to knowledge.

He noted that the collaboration had already produced distinguished graduates, including the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, while several serving and former lawmakers, as well as professionals from different sectors, are among those who have graduated or are currently enrolled in the programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the matriculating students to uphold the values of discipline, integrity and relevance throughout their academic journey.

He encouraged them to attend lectures regularly, maintain effective engagement with their supervisors, uphold academic honesty and pursue research capable of providing practical solutions to institutional and national challenges.

Professor Ibileye also appreciated the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Directors of the various Institutes, Heads of Departments, programme coordinators, academic staff, administrative personnel and non-teaching staff for their dedication to the successful implementation of the collaborative programmes.

Looking ahead, he reaffirmed the University’s commitment to expanding its partnership with NILDS through additional areas of collaboration and the establishment of a structured alumni network that would strengthen professional engagement and policy impact among graduates.

On behalf of the Senate and Management of the Federal University Lokoja, Professor Ibileye formally admitted the fourth cohort into the doctoral programmes and congratulated the students on their admission into the University.