Ubani Earns Doctoral Degree in Law from Babcock University

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Dr Monday Ubani, on Tuesday formally received his Doctor of Philosophy in Law from Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, emerging as the institution’s best graduating PhD student in Law.

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The senior lawyer said the achievement fulfilled a lifelong academic ambition that was delayed for decades by family responsibilities, professional commitments and personal tragedies.

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Speaking after the university’s convocation ceremony, Ubani recounted how he had intended to commence his doctoral studies immediately after earning his master’s degree but abandoned the plan following advice from friends who encouraged him to wait for an opportunity to study abroad.

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According to him, the decision ultimately prolonged his academic journey.

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“I wanted to start my PhD immediately after my master’s degree, but some friends advised me to wait and study abroad. Looking back now, I believe I would have completed the programme much earlier if I had followed my original plan,” he said.

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Ubani noted that his marriage and family responsibilities further delayed the dream as he prioritised the education of his children over his own academic ambitions.

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He explained that he only returned to pursue the doctorate after all his children had completed their university education and obtained master’s degrees.

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“When my children had completed their master’s degrees, I felt it was time for me to return to school and accomplish a dream I had always cherished,” he said.

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The former NBA-SPIDEL chairman described the transition back to academic life after several years away from the classroom as demanding, particularly while managing a busy legal practice, family commitments, church responsibilities and the rigorous demands of doctoral research.

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He identified statistics and research methodology as among the most challenging aspects of the programme.

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“Statistics was a major challenge for me at the beginning. I wondered why it was necessary, but I later understood its relevance to research and my thesis. I had to devote serious attention to it,” he said.

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The senior advocate said he planned to pursue a career in academia alongside legal practice, with the ambition of becoming a professor of law.

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He revealed that he had already published seven scholarly articles in reputable academic journals and intends to expand his research output in the years ahead.

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Ubani described knowledge as more enduring than material wealth, saying doctoral education equips scholars with the ability to interrogate ideas, solve complex problems and contribute to societal development.

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“A PhD teaches you to think critically, question assumptions and provide solutions to societal challenges. It is not just about earning a degree but about contributing to knowledge and human development,” he said.

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