Dr. Temitope Musowo, former General Secretary of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents’ Association (LAHACA) and ex-Lagos correspondent for Peoples Gazette, has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy by the University of Ibadan.

The degree was conferred during the University’s 2025 Graduation Ceremony and 77th Foundation Day Celebration, held on Monday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

In a post-convocation interview in Lagos, Dr. Musowo described the achievement as the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication, overcoming personal and academic challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged ASUU strikes, and the rigorous demands of Nigeria’s premier PhD program.

“Getting to this point wasn’t easy,” he reflected. “Many in my inaugural PhD cohort in Public Policy couldn’t complete the journey. The UI PhD experience is like queuing behind people depositing church offerings at a bank—you only know when you walk in, but never know when you’ll leave. Sometimes, you even have to switch queues to finish on time.”

Dr. Musowo said his pursuit of the highest academic qualification was motivated by both personal resolve and professional ambition. He recalled an early experience: “Years ago, as an NCE holder, I was rejected by a lady partly because I didn’t have a degree. That moment planted a seed: I vowed to earn the highest possible qualification. In my home state, education is highly valued; having a PhD is almost the norm.”

His journalistic career also inspired his academic journey. “While covering the Lagos State House of Assembly for over a decade, some lawmakers would seek my input on policy research ahead of plenary debates, yet my contributions were rarely valued beyond a token ‘brown envelope.’ I decided to earn a PhD so I could be engaged not just as a reporter, but as a policy consultant,” he said.

Dr. Musowo’s interest in public policy was further ignited during a 2019 election reporting training co-organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the European Union, where a facilitator encouraged journalists to hold politicians accountable on policy. Coincidentally, he learned that UI was starting a PhD programme in Public Policy, and he applied immediately for the 2019/2020 academic session.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Dr. Musowo noted the significant influence of his late father and mother. “Left to my father alone, I might not have pursued education beyond secondary school. My mother insisted I continue, paying for my re-enrollment, and my father later supported me once I gained admission to higher institution.”

He also expressed gratitude to the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which fully funded his doctoral studies.

With a PhD in Public Policy and an MSc in Sustainable Development, coupled with his extensive journalism and policy analysis experience, Dr. Musowo is now poised to make a greater impact at the intersection of media, governance, and public policy in Nigeria and beyond.