By Abdul Lauya
In a historic academic feat, the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has graduated the first-ever cohort of PhD candidates in Legislative Governance Studies in Nigeria.
The eight pioneering scholars were conferred with doctoral degrees on May 28, 2025, marking a groundbreaking moment for the university and the wider legislative studies community in Africa.
This landmark achievement was made possible through a strategic and visionary partnership between FUL and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), aimed at producing experts in parliamentary governance.
The three-year doctoral programme, focused on Legislative Studies and Parliamentary Administration, involved rigorous research, intensive training, and practical scholarship aligned with national development needs.
The initiative was spearheaded by FUL’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, whose foresight in establishing a specialised academic hub has now positioned the university as a leader in legislative education.
Key academic leaders, including Professor Gbenga Ibileye, Professor Rotimi Matthew Ajayi, and Professor Segun Joseph, played instrumental roles in implementing this vision and ensuring academic excellence.
The support of NILDS, under the leadership of Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, was crucial in institutionalising the programme and providing the academic and policy framework necessary for its success.
This pioneering effort not only fills a critical gap in governance-related scholarship but also lays a sustainable foundation for building a new generation of legislative authorities in Nigeria.
As the graduates step into roles that will influence policymaking and legislative reform, the FUL-NILDS collaboration is now seen as a model for advancing democratic governance through academic innovation.
The success of this programme signals the dawn of a new academic era where universities and policy institutions co-create knowledge to solve real governance challenges.
With this achievement, Federal University Lokoja has firmly positioned itself as the cradle of legislative governance scholarship in West Africa.
