Kwara NPFL Referee Usman Abubakar Bags PhD from UNILORIN

Kwara NPFL Referee Usman Abubakar Bags PhD from UNILORIN

A Grade One Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) referee and lecturer at the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, Usman Abubakar, has added another remarkable achievement to his growing profile after successfully earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from University of Ilorin.


Usman, who is a member of the Kwara State Football Referees Council from Ilorin West Local Government Area, recently completed the four-year doctoral programme, comprising two years of coursework and another two years dedicated to thesis research. 

His Phd confirmation was made on Tuesday after succesfully defending his thesis at the department of Human Kinetics Education, University of Ilorin

His doctoral thesis was titled "Administrative and Socio-economic Factors as Predictors of Football Referees' Performance in the Nigeria National League in North-Central States, Nigeria."

The achievement comes barely a year after the highly-rated official secured promotion to officiate in the NPFL, Nigeria's top-flight football league, further underlining his commitment to excellence both on the field and in academia.

 His latest academic feat has drawn praise from colleagues within the football fraternity and the educational sector, who describe him as a shining example of dedication, discipline and continuous self-development.


Speaking on the accomplishment, Usman expressed gratitude to God for making one of his lifelong dreams a reality. He noted that while his promotion to the NPFL last season was a major milestone, obtaining a PhD this year represents another significant target achieved in his personal and professional journey.

"I am so happy and give glory to God for making one of my dreams come true. I was fortunate to be promoted to the NPFL last year, and this year I have achieved another desired target. However, this is not my final stage, especially on the academic side. I still have greater aspirations beyond the doctorate level," he said.

Usman's success story continues to inspire aspiring referees, academics and sports administrators across Kwara State and beyond, demonstrating that excellence in sports and education can go hand in hand.

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