,,,,,, AGIH’S PhD defencre: An epitome of mentorship that never ends.
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The attainment capped the zenith of mentorship involving the trio of Professor Hassan Isah (number 1 in the picture below), then Vice-Chancellor, Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) Anyigba, Professor Marietu Tenuche (number 2), then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and current Vice-Chancellor of the University, and my humble self (number 3), then Departmental Examination Officer and now Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
By Prof.Salisu Ogbo Usman.
On December 10, 2024, a remarkable chapter in mentorship and academic excellence unfolded as Agih Micah Abdul, one of my lifelong mentees, successfully defended his PhD thesis. While I was presiding over a management meeting at Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the joyous news arrived, delivered by his supervisor—a moment of pride and reflection on a mentorship journey spanning over a decade.
This accomplishment is a testament to the enduring mentorship chain that began with Professor Hassan Isah, former Vice-Chancellor of Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba), who laid the foundation for this academic lineage. Professor Isah not only recruited me into the university in 2009 but also brought Agih on board as a Graduate Assistant in 2015. Alongside Professor Marietu Tenuche, an inspiring mother figure and Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies, we collectively nurtured Agih’s academic and personal growth.
My journey with Agih started in 2011 when I served as the 200 Level Adviser for the Department of Political Science.
It was that moment my path crossed with Agih Micah Abdul and fate soon set us on a shared path of growth.
When Agih became the class representative, his leadership qualities and commitment to excellence began to shine. Later, as President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), he displayed exceptional administrative skills, humility, and loyalty—qualities that further cemented my belief in his potential.
Through consistent encouragement, Agih pursued his MSc under my supervision, excelling with distinction. I then urged him to step beyond his comfort zone for his PhD, and his eventual enrollment marked the beginning of yet another academic triumph. Along the way, Agih also embraced family life, a journey we celebrated by welcoming his wife into the Polytechnic community.
Today, as Dr. Agih Micah Abdul steps into the esteemed circle of PhD holders in Political Economy and Development Studies—a field that echoes the legacy of our shared mentor, Professor Tenuche—I am filled with pride and fulfillment. His success embodies the ethos of mentorship: lifting others while climbing higher.
Agih’s journey from undergraduate student to PhD holder underscores the power of perseverance, loyalty, and the transformative impact of dedicated mentorship. My charge to him is simple but profound: keep the torch of mentorship burning, guiding those who follow in your footsteps.
Congratulations, Dr. Agih Micah Abdul. Your success is not just yours—it is a shared triumph that reflects the beauty of an unbroken chain of mentorship.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman is the Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
