Former Director-General of the campaign group for the Ifelodun Local Council Development Area Chairman, Lagos State, Dr. David Ayo Babalola, has been conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Defence and Strategic Studies by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna. The honour came during the institution’s 35th Convocation Ceremony, held in recognition of graduating cadets of the 72 Regular Course and postgraduate students.
Dr. Babalola is actively rooted in the politics of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government of Lagos State, where his activism dates back to 1999 as a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) In 2015, he contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency II, and again in 2017 as a chairmanship aspirant in the LGA.
Beyond politics, Dr. Babalola currently teaches International Relations at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, a Chartered Public Relations Practitioner and a registered practitioner of advertising in Nigeria. Before transitioning into academia, he garnered over 10 years of corporate work experience, notably serving as Manager of Brand Management at the defunct Starcomms Plc and TYDACOMM Ltd. His academic contributions have been published in both national and international journals.
Dr. Babalola, fondly called “Dave” by friends and associates, shared videos and photos of the convocation procession on his social media platforms, attracting a flood of congratulatory messages from family, friends, colleagues, and political associates. His wife, Mrs. Victoria Ronke Babalola, penned an emotional tribute, describing him as “a hardworking man with a passion for excellence and thirst for success,” adding that she was “super proud and blessed” to share in his journey.
Notable personalities, including legal practitioner Olusegun Olaiya Benson Osasona, former Ajeromi Chairmanship aspirant Saheed Ojora, and members of the Kegites Club International, also extended their felicitations.
Earlier in July 2025, Dr. Babalola had announced the successful defence of his doctoral thesis at the NDA Postgraduate School Conference Hall. His research, which critically examined Nigeria’s foreign and defence policies in the Gulf of Guinea, highlighted the interplay between national interests, maritime security, and regional geopolitics.
The thesis produced 10 key findings that exposed gaps in Nigeria’s maritime security framework and identified five areas for future research in international relations and strategic studies. The defence panel, which included external examiner Prof. Ndaliman Alhaji Hassan of the Federal University, Kashere, commended the academic rigour of the work and endorsed its originality and contribution to knowledge.
The convocation marks a significant milestone in Dr. Babalola’s career, not only as a personal academic achievement but also as a contribution to Nigeria’s ongoing discourse on maritime security, regional cooperation, and international diplomacy.
