General S.K. Usman Bags PhD in Defence and Security Studies
By Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
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Brigadier General S.K. Usman (Rtd) has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Defence and Security Studies by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, following years of rigorous academic research, perseverance and commitment to lifelong learning.
Usman, the Sarkin Yaƙin Kanwan Katsina received his PhD certificate on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 36th Convocation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in his academic and professional career.
The retired senior military officer described the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-standing academic ambition, saying his years of research and determination had finally yielded the desired result.
Gen. Usman, the former Spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah and to the family members, supervisors, mentors, colleagues and others who supported him throughout the demanding academic journey.
The occasion was particularly significant for the Usman family as his first daughter, Nabeelah Sani Usman, also graduated with a Master’s degree during the same convocation ceremony.
According to Brigadier General Usman, celebrating the academic achievements of both father and daughter at the prestigious military institution made the occasion especially memorable and fulfilling for the family.
He said the PhD was not merely another academic qualification but a reflection of the importance of perseverance, discipline, continuous learning and the pursuit of knowledge.

The retired general also expressed particular honour at obtaining the doctorate from the Nigerian Defence Academy, one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions for military, defence and security education.
He said the knowledge and insights acquired during his doctoral studies would be deployed towards contributing to scholarship, strategic communication, defence and security discourse, as well as national development.
The achievement adds another milestone to the academic and professional journey of Brigadier General S.K. Usman (Rtd), while the simultaneous graduation of his daughter with a Master’s degree made the 36th NDA Convocation a memorable family celebration.
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