The immediate past Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Dr Gbenga Komolafe, has added another academic distinction to his illustrious career, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Law from Bingham University, Nasarawa State.
Komolafe, who recently exited public service after serving as the head of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulatory agency, was among the graduands at the university’s convocation ceremony, marking another milestone in a career spanning public service, petroleum regulation and industry development.
At the convocation, Komolafe and 58 others bagged doctorate degrees from the School of Postgraduate Studies, while 206 students graduated with academic master’s degrees in various disciplines.
Similarly, 219 students graduated with professional master’s degrees, while 96 others obtained postgraduate diplomas.
At the undergraduate level, a total of 1,315 students graduated, with 71 earning first-class degrees and 472 obtaining second-class upper degrees across various disciplines.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER shortly after the 7th convocation ceremony of the university on Saturday, the former NUPRC boss said his decision to pursue a doctoral degree was driven by his longstanding belief in the transformative power of education and his commitment to deepening knowledge, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that the decision was not motivated by the desire to acquire another academic title or display an academic achievement, but by the need to strengthen his intellectual capacity, interrogate established practices and make further contributions to knowledge and professional practice.
Komolafe said his conviction about the importance of education had remained a major source of inspiration throughout his professional journey, stressing that educational development was essential to building human capital and advancing national development.
“My inspiration is based on my belief and commitment to deepening knowledge. I’ve always believed that education is the foundation and the tool to human development, national development and the development of humanity.
“Education, like I’ve said, is very, very important because it is the foundation. For a nation, it is very important to pay premium attention to our educational development as a tool to developing national resources and building our human capital.
“My inspiration is my implicit belief and commitment to deepening knowledge,” he said.
He cited American statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin, recalling his famous observation about education being among the most valuable investments because of the returns it generates.
According to him, Nigeria must continue to prioritise education as a strategic investment in its human resources, adding that the development of human capital remains central to the country’s ability to achieve sustainable growth.
For Komolafe, the PhD represents more than a personal academic accomplishment. Rather, it provides an opportunity to interrogate established practices, challenge conventional thinking and contribute more meaningfully to the body of knowledge in the oil and gas sector.
He said the doctoral programme was designed to equip him with the intellectual capacity to examine existing assumptions and develop fresh perspectives that could contribute to the advancement of his chosen field.
“Pursuing a doctoral degree for me is not a trophy. It is not a display of trophy, but the beginning and the need to deepen knowledge.
“Rather, it is a tool for preparing oneself to interrogate the status quo, to interrogate conventional thinking and conventional wisdom. It is an equipping tool for equipping oneself in a manner that one could better contribute to the body of knowledge in one’s chosen area of endeavour, as it applies to me in oil and gas,” he said.
The former regulator added that his experience in the petroleum industry, particularly his years of involvement in regulating Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, had strengthened his determination to make further contributions to the development of the industry.
He explained that pursuing the doctoral programme was partly informed by his desire to bring additional intellectual depth to the knowledge he had acquired through years of professional practice.
“Having had the privilege to regulate the oil and gas landscape in Nigeria, I was inspired by the need to make further contributions to this area of endeavour.
“I believe that acquiring a higher degree, at the postgraduate and doctoral level, will further equip me to contribute to this area of endeavour,” Komolafe said.
Beyond the academic recognition associated with the doctorate, Komolafe disclosed that his exit from public service had opened another phase of professional engagement in academia.
He said he had commenced lecturing at Nile University, where he was sharing his practical experience in the petroleum industry with students, particularly in the area of oil and gas law.
The former NUPRC chief described his transition into the classroom as an opportunity to contribute to human capital development by helping young people understand the practical dimensions of the petroleum industry.
According to him, his years of experience in the sector had provided him with valuable practical knowledge that could complement academic learning and prepare students for the challenges of the industry.
“At the moment, with my exit from public service life, I’ve been engaged at Nile University, where I now lecture and share my knowledge.
“Don’t forget that I’ve been in the oil and gas sector for the greater part of my career life. So now, I’m better equipped to help in the development of human capital by sharing practical experience in the oil and gas industry with the young ones, particularly in oil and gas law,” he said.
He explained that his involvement in academia would provide an avenue to propagate and disseminate knowledge, particularly among students seeking to build careers in the petroleum industry.
Komolafe said the opportunity to teach would enable him to combine his professional experience with academic knowledge in preparing the next generation of professionals who would contribute to the development of the sector.
