FUL VC Congratulates NILDS, UNIBEN on 10th Postgraduate Convocation, Urges Graduands to Embrace Innovation and Good Character

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, FNAL, FESAN, FLAN, has congratulated the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on their 10th Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony.

Professor Ibileye delivered the goodwill message on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, Management, staff and students of FUL at the ceremony held at the NILDS Permanent Site in Piwoyi District, Abuja.

He described the convocation as a significant milestone that reflects years of institutional planning, academic commitment and character development.

“Today’s event goes beyond a ceremony; it represents the fulfilment of a vision and the reward of years of sacrifice, teaching, learning, and character moulding,” Professor Ibileye said.

He noted that producing ten consecutive sets of postgraduate graduates demonstrated the institutions’ commitment to quality assurance and academic stability. He also commended the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, for his leadership.

Addressing the graduands, the FUL Vice-Chancellor urged them to become worthy ambassadors of their institutions by prioritising innovation, entrepreneurship, integrity and good character.

His presence at the ceremony also highlighted the growing academic relationship between FUL and NILDS, extending beyond the institute’s postgraduate affiliation with UNIBEN.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, disclosed that the institute maintains a doctoral collaboration with FUL covering six PhD programmes.

He noted that the partnership had already produced doctoral graduates, including scholars who completed their master’s degrees under the NILDS-UNIBEN framework.

Professor Sulaiman highlighted the significance of the 10th convocation, noting that it coincided with the tenure of the 10th National Assembly and marked his final convocation ceremony as Director-General of NILDS.

The institute graduated 123 students across nine postgraduate programmes.

The master’s degree category recorded the following graduates:

1. Legislative Studies: 51 graduates.
2. Law and Legislative Drafting: 15 graduates.
3. Parliamentary Administration: 19 graduates.
4. Elections and Party Politics: 11 graduates.
5. Constitutional Law and Constitutional Development: Three graduates.

The postgraduate diploma category produced the following graduates:

1. Elections and Political Party Management: Seven graduates.
2. Legislative Drafting: Three graduates.
3. Legislative Studies: Five graduates.
4. Parliamentary Administration: Nine graduates.

Reflecting on achievements recorded during his tenure, Professor Sulaiman highlighted the approval of four new postgraduate programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the expansion of the academic workforce to more than 40 lecturers and researchers, and progress towards accrediting Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie, SAN, commended NILDS for its role as the capacity-building arm of the National Assembly.

He urged the graduands to apply their knowledge and professional skills with integrity and professionalism, particularly as Nigeria prepares for its next electoral cycle.

Meanwhile, Professor Etannibi E. O. Alemika delivered the convocation lecture titled “The State Police: Issues, Challenges and Prospects.”

He argued that establishing state police alone would not resolve Nigeria’s insecurity challenges and called for a comprehensive approach to addressing the country's security concerns.