The Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) at the University of Abuja on Wednesday awarded fresh Doctoral Degrees in Public Governance and Leadership, as well as in Policy and Strategic Studies, to seven Nigerians.
This academic achievement follows the successful defense of their theses on July 9, 2025, at the Centre, which is a TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Leadership and Public Governance.
According to the Director of the Center, Prof. Philip Dahida, the event notably marks the second time students have defended their doctoral theses since the establishment of the institute.
Prof. Dahida also, in his remark, commended both the internal and external examiners, as well as the efforts of all the postgraduate students who defended their theses. He assured everyone of the Centre’s commitment to strengthening leadership and public service in Nigeria through education.
Five candidates were awarded doctoral degrees in Public Governance and Leadership, including James Abel, Agatha Chukwudumebi Odita, Janet Asuquo Amba, Illikannu Christabel Chinweokwu Gentle, and Anyanwu Onyebuchi Henry. At the same time, the duo of JohnKennedy Chukwudi Chime and Ukpabi Iheanyichukwu Hilary received doctoral degrees in Policy and Strategic Studies.
Reacting to this academic milestone, one of the awardees, James Abel, described it as a “lifetime fulfillment” and praised the staff and management of the Centre for fostering an environment that promotes leadership and governance through education.
James expressed his intention to use the knowledge gained from the doctoral programme to enhance the participation of young people in governance and leadership, particularly in Kogi State and across Nigeria.
“This is one of the happiest days of my life. Achieving this milestone has been my dream since childhood, and I am committed to using what I have learned to support the youth in the Confluence State and the nation at large.
“I commend the leadership of ALC; they have accomplished a lot, and this is the second set of graduations for PhDs. More are to come, and the Centre is taking measures to ensure it remains the best among its peers. This is indeed heartwarming for us, and we look forward to ALC becoming an example for other institutions,” James stated.
Another awardee, Agatha Chukwudumebi Odita, shared her plans to apply her research, which focused on women’s inclusion in leadership and governance, to advocate for the deliberate inclusion of more women in political and public offices.
Odita praised the Centre for equipping citizens with leadership knowledge, stressing that “the Professor Dahida-led ALC has done well.” She pledged to continue advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership roles and to leverage her doctoral knowledge to positively impact her immediate environment and Nigeria as a whole.
“Although many women have been mobilized during elections and have campaigned actively, their efforts often do not translate into actual power. I envision a scenario where women can emerge as leaders in Nigeria, which could be achieved through proper inclusion.
“We need to adopt new approaches and change our mindset, taking inspiration from countries like Rwanda and Senegal, which have successfully integrated women into political leadership.
“I commend The Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja, under the leadership of Prof. Dahida, for strategically raising and developing leaders capable of achieving effective governance,” Odita stated.
On his part, JohnKennedy Chukwudi Chime mentioned that his doctoral program is aimed at helping government establishments in Nigeria improve organizational practices and public policy, as his research addressed challenges within the public service.
He lamented the persistent issues faced by the public service, which are exacerbated by inadequate capacity building from government institutions.
“My focus was on performance management, aimed at improving services and decision-making, which should enhance public trust.
“I analyzed the gaps in public service, particularly the failure to align key performance indicators with strategic objectives. Many organizations in the public sector are applying the balanced scorecard strategy poorly. Unfortunately, most capacity-building programmes focus more on welfare rather than addressing true training needs,” Chime criticized.
