At 71, retired banker and lawyer Dr. Olusegun Bolaji earned a PhD in Law from Babcock University to inspire lifelong learning, while urging reforms in public university culture, as the university’s VC called on graduates to use their knowledge for national transformation.
During Babcock University’s Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, Dr. Olusegun Frederick Bolaji, a 71-year-old retired banker, was conferred with a PhD in Law.
Dr. Bolaji, a Chartered Accountant from Kogi State and former Executive Director of the defunct Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), was among 217 doctoral graduates honoured at the ceremony.
Reflecting on his journey, he said:
“I want to inspire those coming behind me. There’s no age limit to excellence. I started pursuing law around the time I was retiring from the banking sector. You can always challenge yourself to grow.”
He obtained his first degree in Law from Lagos State University in 2004 at age 50, followed by a Master’s in Law in 2014. He enrolled for his PhD at Babcock University in 2019.
Speaking on the differences in higher education environments, Bolaji advocated for a change in public university culture:
“I attended both public and private universities. Public institutions often treat students poorly—possibly due to a civil service mindset. Private schools are more student-friendly. We need a reorientation in public universities to encourage learning.”
Meanwhile, Babcock University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, urged the graduates to apply their knowledge toward rebuilding society. He challenged them to move beyond titles and use their education as a tool for national and global transformation.
“Let your scholarship challenge the status quo and drive evidence-based solutions. The real value of your doctorate lies not in the title, but in the impact of your work—tangible, visible, and transformative.”
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