Three public servants earned Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Public Governance and Leadership on Tuesday at the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC), Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
According to Professor Philip Dahida, the Director of the Centre, the academic achievements follow the candidates’ successful completion of their academic requirements, including the defense of their theses on October 7, 2025, pending the university’s senate approval.
Recipients of the Doctoral Degree include Yunusa Abubakar, a Controller at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abubakar Yusuf Kana, a staff member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and Dimas Ijanu who is also a public servant.
Speaking after the exercise, Professor Dahida lauded the external examiner, Professor Linda Kwon-Ndung of Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, for her professionalism and passion in evaluating the doctoral candidates, while charging the awardees to apply the knowledge gained appropriately to better the society at large.
As well, Dahida commended the university’s School of Postgraduate Studies, lecturers, and staff of the institution for their significant roles in graduating the doctoral candidates.
In response, one of the PhD awardees, Dimas Ijanu, hailed the Centre for equipping him with essential knowledge in governance and leadership, vowing to apply the training in the larger society.
Ijanu decried that poor leadership has affected Nigeria’s development and nation-building, while stressing the need for leaders to acquire advanced training in leadership and governance.
“This academic milestone is about leadership, and it is very important, if you look at it, whether it is at the family or public level, we need good leadership. So, for what i have learnt, i’m definitely going to impact the people by telling them how good leadership can change the country for the better.
“I strongly agree that poor leadership has affected Nigeria’s development and in moving towards the direction it was supposed to. Nigeria is supposed to be among the top 20 in the world today, but as a result of poor leadership and infrastructure development, we are lagging behind.
“Just like what i have discussed in my Thesis concerning leadership and infrastructure development deficiency in the Nigerian Railway Corporation for example because that was the study i undertook, it is important we about what good leadership will give us, leadership shouldn’t detectorial but participatory, this is what we need and we must open up with infrastructure development, these are what we need going forward.
“I’m so happy for this degree because it is on leadership and governance, it is a good thing for me and will help in improving leadership in the country,” Ijanu stated.
The Abuja Leadership Centre at Yakubu Gowon University is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Public Governance and Leadership, dedicated to enhancing public governance and leadership both in Nigeria and beyond.
