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African Students Clinch Top Honours as KDI School Graduates New Global Policy Leaders
African Students Clinch Top Honours as KDI School Graduates New Global Policy Leaders
By: Michael Mike
African students were among the standout performers as the KDI School of Public Policy and Management held its 2025 Commencement Ceremony, reinforcing the institution’s growing role in shaping a new generation of global policy leaders committed to ethical governance and sustainable development.
The award recipients included Stephen Ojegbola from Nigeria, who earned the Academic Excellence Achievement Award in Intellectual Property and Development Policy.
Speaking at the ceremony in Sejong, the Dean of KDI School, Professor Joon-Kyung Kim, congratulated the graduating class on what he described as a hard-earned achievement, while urging them to prepare for greater responsibilities ahead.
“Today is a day to take pride in how far you have come. After hardship comes happiness, but beyond one mountain lies another mountain. You are now part of our global KDI community of over 73,000 alumni across 143 countries, and wherever you go, you belong to something bigger,” Prof. Kim said.
The Dean highlighted KDI School’s global standing, noting that it was the first institution in Korea to receive the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation twice and that it has been recognised for the fifth consecutive year as an excellent institution by the Korean Ministry of Education.
He added that KDI ranked in the global 51+ tier for Social Policy and Administration in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject and placed second worldwide in citations per paper.
He however stressed that the true measure of success lay beyond rankings and awards, insisting that: “More important than accolades is what you take with you—the skills to use data, the values to serve others and the commitment to improve the world around you,” describing Korea’s development experience as a roadmap to sustainable development for emerging economies.
In a keynote address, the Ambassador of Rwanda to the Republic of Korea, Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi, charged graduates to embrace collaboration in addressing complex global challenges.
He said: “The era of isolated policy-making is over. Climate change, global health security and rising inequality demand cooperation, empathy and intellectual humility. Your success in public service will not be measured by profit, but by impact.”
He added that KDI training had equipped graduates with the ability to analyse policy through the lens of public good and ethical governance, urging them to become “solution makers, not just problem identifiers,” inspired by Korea’s transformation known as the Miracle on the Han River.
Several other African students received academic awards for exceptional performance at the ceremony. Alinafe Yoyola of Malawi (Master of Development Policy), Alieu Ceesay of The Gambia (Master of Data Science for Public Policy and Management) and Mustapha Colley of The Gambia (Master of Public Policy) won the Academic Excellence Achievement Award, while Pamela Mwale of Malawi, a Master of Public Policy graduate, earned a place on the Dean’s List.
Also, Nander Esmeralda Ndam (Master in Intellectual Property and Development Policy) from Nigeria and Samson Garama Dadu (Master of Public Policy) from Kenya received awards for Student Community Service.
Reflecting on his experience, Ojegbola said he chose KDI School for its unique partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
He said: “This programme links intellectual property directly to development policy. Everything here is intentionally designed to bring the best out of students, and the experience challenged me to grow beyond my expectations.”
Another graduate, Muyama Christine from Uganda, described her journey as demanding but transformative. “Policy works not when it assumes self-sufficiency, but when it recognises interdependence,” she said, adding that her time at KDI had shown her the power of community and shared purpose.
African Students Clinch Top Honours as KDI School Graduates New Global Policy Leaders
2026 teachers’ summit: Zulum stands in for NGF chair, commends FG for NELFUND
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday, attended the National Teachers’ Summit held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he stood in for the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Governor Zulum commended the Federal Government for its strategic investments in education, citing the positive impact of Students Loan Scheme, the strengthening of key educational institutions, and the upward review of salaries for federal university teachers as evidence of a clear policy direction aimed at revitalising the sector.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to educational development and human capital advancement in Borno State.
The summit, convened by the Federal Ministry of Education, provided a strategic platform to review the state of Nigeria’s education sector, strengthen policy implementation, and formally launch “Edu Revamp”, a platform to enhance teacher capacity, utilise digital tools for 21st-century skills, and foster collaboration to improve learning outcomes.
About 12 exemplary teachers were honoured for their outstanding service to the nation. Six teachers—one from each of the six geopolitical zones—from the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), alongside six secondary school teachers, received cash awards of ₦25 million each. The Overall Best Teacher award was presented to Mr Solanke Francis Taiwo, who received a cash prize of ₦50 million.
Governor Zulum commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for hosting the maiden National Teachers’ Summit at the Presidential Villa, describing the initiative as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s prioritisation of education.
He particularly applauded her sustained advocacy for girl-child education and her support through scholarships and grants that continue to reduce barriers to educational access for vulnerable Nigerians.
He also praised the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, for their focused and reform-driven leadership.
2026 teachers’ summit: Zulum stands in for NGF chair, commends FG for NELFUND
News
Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK
Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK
By: Our Reporter
Nigeria is participating in the Cocoa Beyond Borders 2026 Conference in the United Kingdom, joining global policymakers, industry leaders, financiers, and farmer representatives to examine power imbalances and compliance challenges in the global cocoa sector.
Delivering a keynote address, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria, challenged existing trade and compliance regimes, stating that cocoa-producing nations “must not remain rule-takers in a system where the rules are made without their meaningful input.”
Speaking within the conference theme, “Rules Without Recourse? Navigating Compliance, Power, and Trade Justice in the Cocoa Sector,” the Minister warned that sustainability frameworks would fail if they undermine farmer livelihoods and national sovereignty, stressing that “compliance cannot be just if it weakens producer economies while protecting markets elsewhere.”
Senator Kyari also cautioned against the weaponisation of ESG and environmental regulations as non-tariff barriers, noting that climate action must advance alongside fairness and equity in global trade.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reclaiming value across the cocoa supply chain, emphasising the need for producing countries to move beyond raw exports to processing, branding, and greater market influence, while calling for stronger producer-led alliances to reshape global cocoa governance.
The two-day conference is examining ESG compliance, digital traceability, climate finance, price volatility, and the future of cocoa innovation, positioning cocoa as a strategic asset in global trade justice.
Kyari Urges Fairer Global Trade Rules as Nigeria Participates in Cocoa Beyond Borders Conference in UK
Armed robbery foiled by Bauchi Police, three suspects arrested in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Three persons were arrested following a foiled armed robbery along the Bauchi–Gombe Federal Highway in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Jan. 26.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 12:16 a.m. when armed robbers blocked the road near Kalajanga Hamlet via Bara Village.
Officers on routine patrol responded promptly, engaging the hoodlums and forcing them to abandon their operation and flee into the surrounding bush.
The trail of the robbers led authorities to the house of one Nasiru Ibrahim of Saddiya Hamlet, where two of his children, Isya Nasiru, 20, and Umar Nasiru, 18, were also arrested in connection with the case.
Recovered items included two sticks, a touch light, three bags, a local bullet-proof shirt, face masks, two pairs of shoes, an Oppo android phone, and several local charms.
Sources say Investigations are ongoing.
Armed robbery foiled by Bauchi Police, three suspects arrested in Bauchi
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