A Quest for Respect: How a Journalist’s Pursuit of a PhD Was Forged in the Halls of Power
A former General Secretary of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents’ Association (LAHACA) and ex-Lagos correspondent for the Peoples Gazette, Dr.Temitope Musowo, 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.
Speaking with journalists after the convocation ceremony, Dr. Musowo described the milestone as the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. He overcame significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged ASUU strikes, and the notoriously rigorous PhD process at Nigeria’s premier university.
He said his pursuit of the doctorate was driven by both personal resolve and professional ambition, adding “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”.
Dr. Mosowo explained further that his journalism career also provided a key motivation, adding “While covering the Lagos State House of Assembly for over a decade, lawmakers would often engage me for policy research ahead of debates. Yet, my contribution was seldom valued beyond tokenism. I decided to earn a PhD so they would engage me not just as a journalist, but as the policy consultant I am.”
According to him ” my 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. A facilitator challenged us to hold politicians accountable on policy during interviews. That session lit a fire in me. It was there i learned that the University of Ibadan was starting its PhD programme in Public Policy, prompting me to apply immediately for the 2019/2020 academic session.
The achievement holds deep personal significance. “Left to my late father, I probably would not have pursued education beyond secondary school,” Dr. Musowo shared.
Dr. Musowo expressed profound gratitude to the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and the Carnegie Corporation of New York for fully funding his doctoral studies.
Now holding a PhD to complement his MSc in Sustainable Development and his extensive background in journalism, Dr. Musowo is poised to deepen his impact at the critical intersection of media, governance, and public policy in Nigeria and beyond.
