The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, has successfully defended his PhD thesis titled “Assessment of Internal Communication and Employee Relations Management in the Nigeria Customs Service”, marking the completion of his doctoral journey.
The defense, which took place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the University of Abuja, represents a major academic milestone for Dr. Maiwada, who described the achievement as a “challenging yet deeply fulfilling journey.” He expressed profound gratitude to Allah for making the feat possible, emphasizing that the journey was driven by faith, resilience, and dedication.
Maiwada, who had previously obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a different field from Bayero University, Kano, highlighted the transition into Mass Communication—beginning from undergraduate level to a doctoral degree in Media Arts—while simultaneously fulfilling his duties as head of the Customs Public Relations Unit.
In his note of appreciation, Dr. Maiwada dedicated his thesis to his late father and recognized his mother for her unwavering support. He also thanked the Head of Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja, Dr. Roseline Yacim; Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR; and his supervisor, Prof. Barth Oshionebo, for their pivotal roles in the successful completion of the research.
He extended special gratitude to his wife, Aisha Musa Auyo, who is also pursuing her PhD, as well as to Dr. Sadiq Mukhtar and Dr. Eric Andover, for their encouragement and contribution.
Notably, during the defense, the external examiner, Prof. Irene Agunloye, commended Dr. Maiwada’s thesis as one of the most flawless she has encountered in her 35-year career. The event also witnessed the graduation of an 85-year-old PhD candidate, a lecturer at Baze University, further reinforcing the timeless value of academic pursuit.
With this achievement, Dr. Maiwada officially joins the growing list of accomplished scholar-practitioners in Nigeria’s public service sector.