By Ben Ngwakwe,Gombe
The Department of Public Administration, Gombe State University (GSU), has successfully concluded a two-day seminar presentation for its pioneer students of the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) programme on Friday in Gombe.
Speaking at the closing session, the Head of the Department, Professor Matthew Funsho Bello, described the programme as a significant milestone, noting that Gombe State University is the first University in Nigeria’s North-East geopolitical zone to establish and offer a Doctor of Public Administration programme.
Professor Bello explained that the seminar was designed to expose doctoral candidates to the principles and standards of academic research and dissertation writing. According to him, the exercise provided an opportunity for students to subject their research proposals to rigorous scholarly evaluation, enabling them to improve the quality of their future theses and dissertations before final submission and defence.
He emphasized that doctoral dissertations approved by the University would be uploaded to the institution’s digital repository, making the research accessible to scholars and researchers worldwide.
During the seminar, reviewers critically assessed the research papers presented by the 24 doctoral students, highlighting their strengths while identifying areas requiring further improvement in line with accepted academic standards.
The Head of Department also announced that the department has scheduled seminar presentations, proposal defences, and internal examinations for Ph.D. and Master’s degree students on July 9, 2026, with eight postgraduate students expected to participate at the department’s boardroom.
The pioneer DPA students commended Professor Bello and members of the department for organising what they described as a highly successful and intellectually rewarding seminar. They noted that the programme broadened their understanding of research methodology, academic writing, and scholarly presentation, equipping them for subsequent stages of their doctoral studies.