A retired public servant, Fanny Ifeoma Mbonu, was among four individuals awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Public Governance and Leadership, and Policy and Strategic Studies at the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) in Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja, on Friday.
According to Professor Philip Dahida, the Director of the Centre, these academic achievements were awarded after the recipients successfully completed all requirements, including defending their theses and dissertations on November 21, 2025. Pending the University’s Senate approval.
Mbonu, who recently retired after 35 years of active and meritorious service, held a senior position at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the time of her retirement.
Other recipients of doctoral degrees in Public Governance and Leadership include Bilkisu Shithu Suleiman and Akpabio Ndarake Esien, while Chidi Alozie Ikocha earned a doctoral degree in Policy and Strategic Studies.
Following the conferral of their academic awards, Professor Akongbowa Bramwell Amadasun, the external examiner from the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, congratulated the recipients. He urged them to promptly address the issues raised during their thesis defenses and emphasized the importance of applying their acquired knowledge for the betterment of society.
In response to this academic milestone, the enthusiastic Fanny Ifeoma Mbonu expressed gratitude to the institution for providing her with the opportunity to further her knowledge. She highlighted the need for Nigeria to develop an adequate and effective information system that better serves its citizens.
Chidi Alozie Ikocha, another PhD awardee, encouraged the federal government to ensure the efficient utilization of proceeds from oil and gas and to properly implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Ikocha noted that poor policy implementation poses a significant challenge to national progress. He emphasized that managers of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources should be mindful not to consume everything at once, but rather to invest in national development.
“We are generating substantial revenue from the oil and gas industry, but it is crucial to reinvest that money for national development. It’s not just about making immediate profits. For example, a country like Norway, which has been involved in the oil and gas business, has built a national sovereign wealth fund that benefits future generations,” Ikocha stated.
“We cannot exhaust our oil resources today and neglect tomorrow; there must be a mechanism for sustainability. My advice is that while we focus on today, we must also consider tomorrow. Furthermore, regarding the current discussions on energy transition, we cannot afford to be complacent with our oil and gas resources. We need to utilize them to develop our economy for the benefit of everyone.
“The experience gained at the Abuja Leadership Centre has greatly enhanced my ability to conduct research that can benefit society as a whole. My thesis focused on the newly established Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) – a commendable policy. However, the key question is: how do we ensure effective implementation? What measures can we take to ensure that our ambitious policies deliver on their promises? The policies exist; it is the implementation that truly matters, and you cannot implement what you do not monitor,” Ikocha asserted.
The Abuja Leadership Centre is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to improving public governance and leadership both in Nigeria and beyond.
