UniAbuja, NILDS begin joint postgraduate studies, matriculate 55

2026-03-24 - 15:44

University of Abuja, in collaboration with National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), have admitted the first set of 55 postgraduate students for the 2024/2025 academic session. The Vice-Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, spoke at the matriculation ceremony held at the NILDS complex on Tuesday in Abuja. Declaring the event open, Fawehinmi said that the institution would run the postgraduate programme in collaboration NILDS. Fawehinmi was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Rosemary Udeozor. “We have come here today to usher you into a great academic pursuit, where many of you will be engaged and assisted in acquiring higher degrees. “By this ceremony, you have become full-fledged students of two great institutions, and I can say that you all are blessed,” he said. The Dean of Social Sciences, UniAbuja, Prof. Mutiullah Olasupo, who gave the background of the collaboration, described the matriculation as a great milestone for the collaboration between the university and NILDS. Olasupo stated that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the collaboration with NILDS to birth its postgraduate programme was signed in 2024. He added that the two institutions started implementing the agreement in 2025 with the admission of students into all the introduced programmes. He listed the courses offered to include: Electoral Management Studies, Democracy and Security Studies, Legislative and Democratic Leadership, Gender and Democratic Governance, and Legislative Entrepreneurship. “These are the five programmes that have been approved by the collaboration committee of these two institutions. The programme will award diplomas, Masters and PhD. degrees. “What is taking place today is specifically to usher in all our students and make them aware of what is academically expected of them,” he added. Olasupo urged the students to demonstrate commitment to achieving high academic excellence according to their areas of specialisation. In his remarks, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said education remained critical in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. Sulaiman said that NILDS had continued to evolve in its academic programmes, in the collaboration with UniAbuja. While congratulating the matriculating students, Sulaiman urged them to obey the laws and regulations of the two institutions. He said that the admission was transparently done, with 47 per cent female and 43 per cent male students. The oath-taking was administered by the acting Registrar of UniAbuja, Prof. Mohammed Sambo. The high point of the event was the symbolic signing of the matriculation register by the matriculating students.