General News
The Nexus between Academic Research and Development: The Importance of Doctoral Degree in National Development in Nigeria
By Onobe Melchizedec , PhD & Elele Felix Chibuzo
In today’s knowledge-based economy, where knowledge, research, and innovation are essential for competitiveness and wealth generation, developing countries require knowledge workers with doctoral degrees to generate understanding for advancing society and the economy.
People with the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to propel innovation and build a dynamic workforce are essential to the prosperity of any nation. Therefore, graduates with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree are an invaluable resource for contributing to the growth and development of a country. The objective of enhancing the contributions that PhD graduates make to national development is also a global concern.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest mark of academic excellence, and holders are revered in society as embodiments of knowledge. It confers to the holder the highest level of competence in a field of study.
Acquiring a PhD degree in any field of study sets one apart and makes the person a specialist and, by extension, someone that could be consulted on that field. This scholarly endeavour is celebrated on completion by wearing a graduation regalia adorned with features that signify excellence and honour.
As a PhD candidate, one is expected to conduct supervised, structured research in one of the many related disciplines in which the Faculty has expertise. After this period, the candidate is expected to produce a lengthy thesis demonstrating their ability to conduct scholarly research. The results of this research should make “an original contribution to the body of knowledge” and meet publication standards.
History shows that the first doctoral degree was awarded in medieval Paris around 1150. In 1860, the University of London introduced the DSc as an advanced study course rather than a research degree. Therefore, the first higher doctorate in the modern sense in the UK was by Durham University in 1882, and other universities followed suit.
Yale University was the first University in the United States to award a PhD in 1861, and the first three earned PhDs in North America. In Nigeria, the University of Ibadan was the first Nigerian University to award a PhD in 1964. Accordingly, many Nigerian Universities now offer doctorates in many diverse fields of study.
Data from the second quarter of 2020 report of the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that Nigeria has over 76,526 PhD holders and more than 20,000 doctoral candidates. Prof Tunji Olaopa, in an article published in the Punch newspaper on 8 May 2022, stated that with the absence of current and valuable data, the number of Nigerian PhD holders as of 2022 could conservatively be estimated to be around 85,000.
Pursuing a PhD degree is not only arduous but also time-consuming and demanding; the candidate must dedicate at least three years of academic study and research work.
The candidate must have passed preliminary qualifying exams to exhibit their theoretical knowledge and competencies in the chosen field of study. The person will also complete a complex process of developing a research proposal, creating a research plan, carrying out research in the area and presenting the results of that research to other experts in the field who would evaluate the work and approve that it meets the highest standards of the academic world.
A doctorate aims to produce professionals with the expertise to conduct research and scholarship to advance knowledge and contribute to international, national, state, and local scholarship and development. PhD recipients are equipped with critical thinking skills, scientific research and theorising abilities, high intellectual integrity, a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and professional competence through lifelong learning, self-evaluation, and self-renewal.
Beyond academic endeavours, the thrust of doctorate research, which is an ingenious contribution to the body of knowledge, should benefit society and contribute to the development of science, engineering, social science and humanities. It should not only be an academic exercise aimed at churning out lecturers for our higher institutions but development-oriented. Research conducted by these PhD studies should form the fulcrum of innovation and the socioeconomic development of society.
Higher academic pursuit up to a PhD degree provides a skilled workforce for specialised knowledge. Doctoral studies typically include training in methodology and research analysis, and obtaining a PhD indicates to potential employers that holders have the analytical skills necessary to conduct rigorous research. Accordingly, employers outside of academia seek individuals with solid research skills to carry out projects at private and public think tanks and research institutes worldwide.
On the micro level, it confers financial and non-financial benefits to the holder. Financial gain is one of the many reasons students pursue a doctorate. Moreover, research indicates that self-satisfaction, self-motivation, and intrinsic motivation are other factors for pursuing and completing a doctoral degree. Acquiring a PhD is essential for employment, career opportunities and progression in the academic ladder.
Historically, a PhD was required to commence a career in academia, and this has not changed, as they are still generally required for academic positions at universities worldwide. A doctorate creates international job teaching/lecturing opportunities and collaborations for holders. Globally, there is continued viability for PhDs in academia.
Socially, the PhD is a symbol of prestige and adds to the social status of the holder, having demonstrated exceptional ability and being regarded as a member of the intellectual elite. In the early sixties and until the late seventies in Nigeria, communities contributed money to sponsor one of their sons or daughters to study for a PhD. It was seen as a communal achievement and status symbol that a community had produced a doctor, as it were.
In research and development, the University is the centre of study and pivotal to new inventions and discoveries in the World. PhD scholars drive most of the research hubs and centres of excellence.
The Government and private sector spend huge budgets on research and development, and PhD students receive grants to research innovations that are valuable to human development. Moreover, doctoral programs provide intensive training in research methods, and the skills acquired in qualitative and quantitative research methodology and statistical analysis are transferable to non-academic research environments, especially industrial research.
In career development, a doctorate increases one’s earning potential compared to other educational levels in universities and research institutes. Those with a doctorate can also anticipate higher compensation inside and outside academia. Doctorate holders in Nigerian universities and higher institutions can only occupy certain positions and posts.
To underscore the importance of the PhD to academic development and knowledge transfer, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory professional bodies require a minimum number of doctorate holders as faculty before accreditation for a course is given.
In the body of knowledge, a PhD thesis may also serve as the foundation for a book that, when published, will become part of the scholar’s professional career and scholarly documentation. A doctoral dissertation contributes to the body of human knowledge.
In addition, the results, conclusions, and recommendations invariably contribute to economic and social advancement. In addition, the thought content paves the way for new research avenues and promotes an interdisciplinary approach, which will strengthen the social fabric of lifestyles.
Interestingly, in Nigeria, little is known about the employment of PhD recipients outside the academia after receiving their degrees. There appears to be a void regarding the direct impacts of PhD graduates in the workplace outside the academic environment. Moreover, the research capacity of many employed PhDs has not been maximised.
There are disparities between the purpose of doctoral education and the employment of Nigerian PhD graduates, as some are employed in positions unrelated to their fields of study. People now doubt the knowledge and abilities of this group of highly educated Nigerian graduates, and there is a need for a paradigm shift.
It has become pertinent to re-evaluate the curriculum and content of doctoral studies in Nigeria. Nigeria’s doctoral education should be tailored to play a crucial role in nurturing economic growth. It should be viewed as an investment in human capital, the cost of which is anticipated to yield returns and generate significant benefits in the form of increased opportunities, productivity, employment conditions, and incomes.
Amid our underdevelopment in critical sectors, doctoral education should be a pathway for nurturing independent researchers who can produce and disseminate new knowledge, solve real problems, and contribute to innovation through ground-breaking research, publishing, and forging a competitive edge that fuels national development.
Nigerians expect our doctoral graduates to make significant contributions to the creation of new knowledge, the development of life-saving medical interventions, undergraduate education, and the shaping of social programmes and policies. Our PhD should adapt to the demands of the 21st century for a degree that fosters the development of personal and professional skills to support all critical sectors and promote human development indices.
As society continues to evolve and the universe faces new challenges, the need for acquiring more specialised knowledge will continue to increase hence the need for more doctorate holders.
The training of future graduates, national development and knowledge transfer depends on the quality and quantity of PhD graduates. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people and 170 Universities in 2023 (79 private, 43 federal, and 48 state universities) and numerous applications for licencing of new universities, the requirement and demand for more doctorate holders will keep soaring.
However, there is the need to ensure that the curriculum adds value and that the quality of graduates meets international best practices and those conferred with the degree reason philosophically.
Both wrote from Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State
Young girls aspiring to delve into ICT careers have been advised to take advantage of the current versatility in the industry to create a niche for themselves. This was the view of participants at the just-concluded International Girls in ICT Day celebration organised by eBusinessLife Communication Limited, in Lagos.
The event, an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), seeks to encourage young girls to take up tech careers that will see them balance the gender disparity in the industry.
In a panel session moderated by Tech Life Media CEO and organiser of Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Technology Summit (WEETS), Ugochi Emmanuel, top female tech executives narrated their foray into technology careers and advised the young girls on requirements and need to start early in the quest to make global impact in ICT.
Narrating her experience into a tech career, Chief Administrative Officer, Digital Realty, Nigeria, Dr. Nkechi Newton Denila noted that the difficulties of the past have been lightened up and more women have opportunities to excel in the field.
“Today, the landscape is vastly different. Governments, international organizations and private institutions across the globe are intentionally creating opportunities for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The reason we are gathered here is part of that global commitment to ensuring that more women participate in ICT and related fields.
This presents a unique advantage for young girls. Many organizations now deliberately promote gender inclusion and equal opportunities in technology. Therefore, if you discover an area within ICT that excites you, pursue it wholeheartedly. This window of opportunity may not remain open forever. Do not wait for others to decide your future for you. Identify your passion, chart your course, and remain committed to achieving your goals.”
Associate Consultant and Information Security Analyst, Digital Encode, Itunuola Aderemi, advised the young girls to begin researching various technology disciplines, including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Data Science for areas that align fully with their interests and strengths. And to explore and discover any field that perfectly matched my aspirations.
While admitting the existence of such challenges as persistent stereotype against the female gender, Team Lead, Retails, New Horizons Nigeria, Glory Omole, noted that fortunately, organisations such as New Horizons are actively working to change that narrative. “Our leadership recognizes the urgent need to increase female participation in ICT. Considering that women still constitute a relatively small percentage of the global technology workforce, there is a deliberate effort to encourage more girls and women to enter the field.”
She however cautioned the young girls not to see this campaign as a competition between men and women, rather, it should be seen as a partnership where everyone is given equal opportunities to contribute and excel. “We want to see more women leading innovations, conducting research, developing applications and creating solutions that address societal challenges,” she enthused.
Speaking on the need for mentorship, Asst. Manager, Product & Services, Zoracom, Mistura Salaudeen, noted that stereotypes and confidence-related challenges still exist, but one effective way to overcome them is by drawing inspiration from women who have succeeded. She observed that across government, technology, finance, healthcare and other sectors, women are increasingly occupying leadership positions, serving as Chief Technology Officers, board members and executives.
“While challenges persist, I believe our focus should shift towards opportunities rather than obstacles. Artificial Intelligence, for example, has significantly lowered barriers to entry. AI enables individuals to develop business proposals, prepare presentations and execute ideas much faster than before. Therefore, instead of being discouraged by challenges, girls should leverage available technologies and communities to accelerate their growth and maximize emerging opportunities,” she advised.
Glory Omole also noted that technology is broad and offers diverse opportunities.
“There are numerous digital skills available today, but the choice of skill should depend largely on individual interests and career aspirations.
Fields such as Data Analytics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Web Development and User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Design are among the high-demand skills available today. Each serves a distinct purpose.”
Corroborating this claim, Dr. Newton-Denila said: “It is important to understand that ICT now permeates virtually every profession. Whether in medicine, law, engineering, agriculture or business, technology has become an indispensable component of professional practice.
In medicine, for example, Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used in diagnostics, telemedicine and robotic surgery. Similarly, in law, digital applications now support legal research, documentation and case management.”
The event has its theme as “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”.
General News
Franklyn Ginger-Eke CEO The Rainbow Strategy Honoured with PR Power List 2026 Rising Voices Award
Dr Franklyn Ginger-Eke, Founder and Chief Strategist of The Rainbow Strategy, has been honoured with the PR Power List 2026 Award in recognition of his contributions to strategic communications and public relations in Nigeria.
Franklyn Ginger-Eke, CEO The Rainbow Strategy
Ginger-Eke received the award in the Rising Voices category during the fifth edition of the PR Power List organised by GLG Communications as part of activities marking the 2026 World Public Relations Day.
The award ceremony, held at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, attracted leading professionals and stakeholders in Nigeria’s public relations industry.
Among those in attendance were the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku; the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogun; former President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and Chief Executive Officer of CMC Connect LLP, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; and Executive Director of THOP and Adviser, Edelman Africa, Mr Kwame Senou.
According to the organisers, the PR Power List recognises public relations and communications professionals whose work has made significant contributions to organisations, influenced public discourse and advanced the communications profession over the past year.
Reacting to the recognition, Ginger-Eke described the award as both humbling and motivating.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition for the modest contribution we are making in shaping the public relations and communications ecosystem.
“I see it as a testament to the dedication, creativity and excellence of our team at The Rainbow Strategy.
“This is a call to do more in delivering strategic communication solutions that create impact, build trust and contribute to the continued growth of the public relations profession in Nigeria,” he said.
He dedicated the award to young and aspiring communication professionals, encouraging them to embrace innovation, professionalism and ethical practice in their careers.
Ginger-Eke also reaffirmed The Rainbow Strategy’s commitment to promoting excellence in strategic communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, data protection compliance and value-driven public relations campaigns across the public and private sectors.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ginger-Eke is recognised for his work in public affairs, strategic communication and data protection compliance through his Abuja-based consultancy, The Rainbow Strategy.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reportedly nearing completion of a $2.5 billion private placement that values the company at about $40 billion ahead of its planned public listing.
Private placement is the direct sale of company shares or bonds to pre-selected investors instead of the general public and it is used to raise money quickly while avoiding strict public reporting rules.
People familiar with the transaction said investors acquired as much as 6 per cent of the refinery, according to a BusinessDay report.
The reported terms would value the business at approximately $40 billion.
Neither Dangote Group nor the refinery has publicly announced the final amount raised, the identities of most subscribers or the precise percentage sold.
The figures should therefore be treated as transaction details supplied by unnamed sources rather than confirmed company disclosures.
The reported $2.5 billion total is nevertheless significant as it indicates strong demand for exposure to a privately controlled refinery that has rapidly become central to Nigeria’s fuel supply and an increasingly important exporter of petroleum products.
The placement was said to have attracted more demand than the available shares, allowing the company to secure substantially more than the amount initially associated with the fundraising exercise.
Femi Otedola, chairman, First HoldCo, is the only major participant publicly identified in the report.
He reportedly committed $100 million to the transaction and sold his investment in Geregu Power Plc to finance the acquisition.
Nigeria’s pension industry was also reportedly cleared to participate.
Access to more than $17 billion in retirement assets would broaden the refinery’s potential investor base beyond wealthy individuals and conventional institutional buyers.
Participation by Pension Fund Administrators would, however, require careful attention to valuation, liquidity and portfolio-concentration limits.
Retirement funds must balance the attraction of a large Nigerian industrial asset against their responsibility to protect contributors’ savings.
The implied $40 billion valuation represents investor expectations about the refinery’s future earnings rather than only the physical cost of constructing the facility.
Its ability to process 650,000 barrels of crude daily gives it a central role in supplying Nigeria and other markets, but its commercial performance remains connected to crude availability, product prices, exchange rates and regulation.
The refinery has struggled to obtain all the Nigerian crude it requires under the government’s naira-for-crude arrangement.
It has consequently purchased some feedstock internationally and recently moved local petroleum-product pricing into dollars to align sales revenue more closely with its foreign-currency expenses.
Those constraints will be important during any public offering.
Prospective shareholders will want greater clarity on crude-supply contracts, debt, operating margins, export revenue and the company’s relationship with Nigerian regulators.
It is also unclear whether the private placement involved newly issued shares, a sale by existing owners or a combination of both.
That distinction determines whether the reported $2.5 billion becomes fresh capital for the refinery or proceeds received by selling shareholders.
The transaction could provide a useful price reference for the planned initial public offering.
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