The 16th Convocation Ceremony of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, recorded an academic milestone as an environmentalist and his son were simultaneously conferred with postgraduate degrees.
Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations. In the same session, his 24-year-old son, David Sheriff Mulade, earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Mass Communication.
The dual graduation has drawn attention within the university community as a rare occurrence in Nigerian postgraduate education. Mulade, a well-known activist in the Niger Delta region, stated that his decision to pursue a doctorate was a strategic move to bridge the gap between his years of field experience in peacebuilding and academic theory.
“Education has no age limit,” Dr Mulade said after the ceremony in Abraka. “I wanted to lead by example, showing my children and my community that the quest for knowledge is a continuous journey. It was about providing academic depth to the practical work we do at CEPEJ.”
His son, David, described the experience of sharing the convocation podium with his father as a motivational peak. “It is a unique experience to graduate alongside my mentor. His disciplined approach to his PhD research while managing his professional responsibilities was the primary motivation for me to complete my Master’s programme on schedule,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, while presiding over the ceremony, commended the graduates for their dedication. He noted that the university continues to witness a surge in postgraduate applications, which he attributed to the institution’s commitment to stable academic calendars and the timely release of results.
The 16th Convocation saw the conferment of various degrees, diplomas, and prizes to thousands of students across multiple faculties. However, the Mulade family’s achievement was singled out by observers as a testament to family mentorship and the growing culture of advanced research among Nigerian professionals.
University officials highlighted that the success of the 2024/2025 academic session reflects DELSU’s standing as a top-tier state-owned institution. With the recent full accreditation of several postgraduate courses, the university management expressed optimism that more professionals would follow the example of the elder Mulade in returning to the classroom to enhance their professional capacity.
