Deputy Minister, PhD Graduate, Tells NiBS Class: "Excellence Is Not Achieved Through Convenience"
Hon. Dr. Alhaji Sulemana Yusif, Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, delivered the PhD class address at NiBS University’s 2026 graduation, reflecting on nearly a decade of pursuing his doctorate while serving in public office.
Dr. Sulemana began his PhD in 2015 but paused his studies after winning election to Parliament that same year. He told graduates he never gave up on the goal: “I said to myself that I’m determined and that I would die with this title.” Now completing the degree, he urged his fellow graduates to see it not as “a title to be placed before our names,” but as a responsibility, a lifelong commitment to intellectual honesty and service.
Speaking candidly about the difficulty of balancing doctoral research with parliamentary duties, ministerial responsibilities and family life, he described the fatigue and self-doubt many graduates quietly experience mid-program, admitting there were moments he asked himself, “why am I worrying myself?” He offered a central message on discipline: “Excellence is really achieved [through discomfort]; you cannot achieve excellence through convenience.” He also distinguished mentorship from supervision, telling graduates, “A supervisor meets you at the finish line. A mentor walks with you long before the journey begins and remains there after you’ve crossed it.”
Dr. Sulemana said his doctoral research has directly shaped his work in government, recalling a moment in Parliament when the Speaker questioned the basis for figures he cited in debate and he was able to point to his own doctoral study as the source. He called on fellow graduates to ensure their research translates into practical impact on education, business and public policy rather than “gathering dust” in libraries.
He closed by thanking family and faculty, and pledging continued involvement with NiBS after graduation, saying some alumni, himself included, intend to stay engaged in growing the university rather than “abandoning” it. Dr. Sulemana went on to receive the ceremony’s President’s Excellence Award and made an on-the-spot pledge to the university’s new research fund during the Chancellor’s fundraising appeal later in the event.