Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani has emerged as the Best Graduating Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in Law at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

Ubani was formally awarded the PhD degree during the university’s convocation ceremony last Tuesday, marking the culmination of a decade-long academic sojourn that was delayed by family responsibilities, professional commitments and personal tragedies.

Speaking after receiving the award, the senior lawyer described the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition that began shortly after he completed his master’s degree.

According to Ubani, “I had initially planned to commence my PhD programme immediately after earning my Master’s degree programme but was persuaded by friends to defer the plan and consider pursuing the doctorate abroad.” The decision, he said, delayed his academic aspirations for several years.

Ubani explained that marriage and the responsibility of raising children further postponed the dream, as he prioritised the education of his family.

He said he eventually returned to school after his children had completed their postgraduate studies, adding that “I decided to ensure my children completed their education first before pursuing my own academic ambition.”

The Bar Leader noted that returning to the classroom after many years was not without challenges, especially as he had to combine legal practice, family commitments, religious engagements and academic work.

He revealed that one of the most demanding aspects of the programme was mastering statistics and research methodology, courses that were critical to the successful completion of his doctoral thesis.

Ubani also recounted how the deaths of both his father and mother interrupted his studies at different stages of the programme. He said that he had to temporarily withdraw from his studies following the death of his father, while the loss of his mother occurred as he was preparing to commence his thesis.

His words: “As the only son, those were difficult moments. They could easily have derailed my academic pursuit, but I remained determined to complete the programme.”

He credited Professor Owolabi for encouraging him to continue whenever he felt overwhelmed by the challenges. The senior advocate said that the senior lecturer’s support and motivation played a crucial role in helping him complete the doctorate programme.

Despite the setbacks, Ubani not only completed the programme but emerged as the Best Graduating PhD Student in Law, a feat he attributed to perseverance, resilience and divine grace. Looking ahead, he disclosed plans to venture into university teaching and work towards attaining the rank of professor.

According to him, he has already published seven scholarly articles in reputable journals and intends to increase his academic contributions through further research and publications.

Ubani stressed the importance of doctoral education, describing it as a platform for developing critical thinking and solving societal problems. He said doctoral degree holders are trained to interrogate issues, challenge assumptions and contribute to new knowledge that can advance society.

“Knowledge is more valuable than wealth because it enables you to make meaningful contributions to humanity,” he said. “A PhD teaches you to think critically and develop solutions to societal challenges.”

He added that obtaining the doctorate degree would not mark the end of his academic journey, expressing his determination to continue learning, researching and contributing to legal scholarship.

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