Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing strategic leadership and policy expertise has benefited the renowned Professor of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Charles Ugochukwu Ukeje, who was among the distinguished participants that graduated from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, recently.

The prestigious graduation event, held at the institute’s serene campus in Plateau State, was graced by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and delivered the keynote address, charging the new graduates to translate their acquired knowledge into tangible actions for national development.

Professor Ukeje, a celebrated scholar whose erudition and contributions to international relations are widely acknowledged across the West African subregion, the African continent, and global diplomatic circles, successfully completed the rigorous 11-month programme. The course equipped participants with advanced tools for policy formulation, strategic thinking, and leadership in addressing contemporary national challenges.

The attainment of the coveted Member of the National Institute (mni) designation by Sir Professor Ukeje kjw adds yet another illustrious feather to his already distinguished cap, further elevating the profile of Obafemi Awolowo University as a cradle of academic excellence and intellectual giants.

Reacting to the milestone, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, described Professor Ukeje’s accomplishment as “an evidence of his unparalleled intellectual depth, sterling dedication to scholarship, and exemplary service to academia and the nation.”

Professor Bamire, known for his astute leadership and visionary stewardship of the Great Ife institution, hailed the new mni as “a shining beacon of what committed scholarship can achieve in shaping policy and strategic discourse at the highest levels.”

“The university management is indeed very proud of this new feather added to Professor Charles Ukeje’s cap,” Professor Bamire stated emphatically. “His participation in this elite programme, which attracts the crème de la crème of Nigeria’s public and private sector leaders, military officers, and academics, reflects the high calibre of faculty that Obafemi Awolowo University continues to produce and retain.”

The Vice-Chancellor expressed utmost confidence that Professor Ukeje would deploy the profound insights and networks gained from the year-long intensive training – encompassing classroom sessions, field studies, national and international tours – for the greater good.

“We are fully confident that this distinguished NIPSS graduate will bring the wealth of knowledge acquired at Kuru to bear on the advancement of our university’s academic programmes, research initiatives, and administrative excellence, while also contributing immensely to national policy formulation and the overall betterment of our dear nation,” Professor Bamire added.

Professor Ukeje’s graduation not only spotlights his personal brilliance but also projects Obafemi Awolowo University positively as a premier institution that consistently produces scholars capable of excelling on national and international stages. It reinforces OAU’s reputation as a hub for transformative education, critical thinking, and leadership development, aligning seamlessly with the institute’s mandate to bridge academia and policymaking.

The colourful ceremony featured the presentation of certificates by Vice-President Shettima, the induction of graduates into the NIPSS Alumni Association, and symbolic badge-pinning by spouses, emphasising family support in leadership journeys.

As Professor Ukeje returns to Ile-Ife adorned with the mni honour, stakeholders at OAU and beyond celebrate this achievement as a proud moment that further cements the university’s legacy of excellence.