Brief on the Directorate of Research
DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH
BACKGROUND
The Directorate of Research is mandated, to organize and carry out, on an interdisciplinary basis in intellectual support of those charged with making and implementing policy for Nigeria, in-depth research into the social, economic, political, security, scientific, cultural and other problems facing the country, and to formulate and present, in usable form, the available options for their solution. this, no doubt is derived from the Institute’s mandate which is “to serve as a high level Center of reflection, research, and dialogue where academics of intellectual excellence, policy initiators and executors and other citizens with high level of practical experience and wisdom drawn from different sectors of national life in Nigeria would meet to reflect and exchange ideas on the great issues of society, particularly as they relate to Nigeria and Africa, in the context of the dynamics of a constantly changing world.”
The Directorate is headed by Professor Dung Pam Sha who is the Director of Research.
Professor Sha was born on September 18, 1959 at Kuru, present day Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. He is the Director of Research at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Nigeria. He is a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies of the University of Jos and a Fulbright Fellow.
Sha started his educational career at the Church of Christ Primary School, Kuru in 1966 and graduated in 1972. He proceeded to the prestigious Gyel Commercial College, Bukuru, in 1973 and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1977. He immediately joined the School of Preliminary Studies, Keffi, 1978 –1979 and obtained the Interim joint Matriculation Exam Certificate in 1979 which qualified him for admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Political Science in 1982 and served the nation under the NYSC program at the School of Social and Rural Development Kano, Kano State. Prof. Sha enrolled for a Master of Science degree in Political Economy and Development Studies at the University of Jos in 1983 and graduated in 1985. He also obtained a PhD in 2004 from same University.
Prof. Sha has considerable experience in the administration of institutions of higher learning but particularly the University system where he has spent a substantial part of his life. He joined the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi in 1985 as Lecturer III, later promoted to Lecturer I and doubled as a Head of Department of Administration and Government Procedures. He was persuaded to join the University of Jos which he did as Lecturer II in 1991 and became Lecturer I in 1995, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999, Reader in 2002 and a Professor in 2007.
He has been Head of Department of Political Science, University of Jos, the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos, the Deputy Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Jos, Director, Office of Research and Development, University of Jos. He was a member of the University of Jos Governing Council.
He has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students. Five of his PhD students have defended and more are awaiting defence. Sha has served as Editor-in-Chief, Associate editor, editor, member of 8 journals spread across the Federal, State and Private Universities in Nigeria. He has served as Visiting Professor to Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria 2007-2008, Foreign Affairs Academy, Badagry, Lagos, 2008 – 2011; Plateau State University, Bokkos Plateau State – January 2013 – date, and Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala Uganda – March 2015.
He has served Master and PhD students at the Nigerian Defence College Abuja, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru; Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi; Federal University, Dutsen Ma, Katsina State; Gombe State University; Bayero University Kano, Nigeria; University of Calabar, Nasarawa State University Keffi; Benue State University, Makurdi, University of Ibadan and University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has assessed about more than 10 Nigerian academics for promotion to the rank of either Reader/Associate Professorship or for Professorship across federal, state and private Universities in the country.
Professor Sha belongs to the following national and international academic professional associations: Nigerian Political Science Association; Nigerian Society of International Affairs (NSIA); African Studies Association -United States (ASA); African Association of Political Science (AAPS); American Political Science Association (APSA); Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria (FAAN); American Studies Association (ASA) Nigeria; Associate Member, Association of Peace Studies of Nigeria; Member, West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) and Member, International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (IIPPE) London, UK.
Professor Sha’s major research areas include, governance and democratization Studies, state and development, identity and tolerance politics; informal sector and development, and labour Studies. He has undertaken more than 30 researches either as an individual, for the University, government, civil society, international organisations.
Professor Sha has more than 57 publications either in Journals, chapters in books, books, conference proceedings, research reports and is read around the world. He has attended more than 30 national and international Seminars, Workshops, Conferences and expert meetings
Professor Sha has travelled widely either for academic conferences, international research meetings, meetings of professional bodies, fellowship to the United States, Mexico, Senegal, South Africa, Egypt, India, Vietnam, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Norway, Czech Republic, Ghana, and the UK. Others include Tanzania, Sierra Leone, China and Nepal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia etc. Prof Sha is married and blessed with 3 Children.
ACTIVITIES
Within the last five years, the Directorate of Research has carried out several workshops and conferences culminating into the publication of six (6) books arising from these conferences. The Directorate has also, as part of it’s mandate, consistently organized the Distinguished Annual Lecture where outstanding personalities are invited to speak on topical national issues.
Academic staff of the Directorate have also been involved in the activities of the Studies Directorate where Fellows are invited to present lectures, supervise Participants’ essays, attend plenary and also make interventions where called upon. Academic staff also participate in the Study Tours of the Senior Executive Course where they handle the academic aspects of the tours. They are also involved in activities of the NIPSS Consult where they handle some Modules of the Policy, Leadership and Strategy Course (PLSC).
Academic staff of the Directorate have equally participated in conferences and workshops organized by other institutions and organizations both within and outside the country. Staff of the Directorate of Research are also involved in the annual Crisis Game simulated aimed at exposing participants to modern techniques of conflict and crises resolution in order to provide practical skills that would be useful in tackling actual conflict and crises resolution.
COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS
The Research Directorate has been involved in collaborative activities with other institutions both within and outside the country towards achieving it’s mandate. Among institutions collaborated with are:
a. Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
b. development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) Kano
c. Daily Trust
d. The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and Learning, Evidencing and Advocacy Partnership (LEAP), which is a pillar of the DFID-funded public sector reform programme
POLITICAL PARTIES LEADERSHIP AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (PPLPDC)
The Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC) was created in 2015 after winning a grant from the European Union (EU) to promote an inclusive democracy in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, deepened by strong, issue-based political parties whose policies serve teh interest of citizens. Teh Vision of teh Centre is to build teh capacity of political parties and leaders for an inclusive democracy, serving teh needs of citizens by networking wif national, regional and global partners, undertaking research, training, conferences, and workshops. The main objectives of the PPLPDC is to strengthen the leadership and organizational capacities of political parties as institutional foundation of Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring that political parties are policy-oriented, responsive, inclusive and more accountable to their members and the society. The Centre has been involved in organizing conferences and workshops for political parties. A recent major activity of the Center is it’s participation in the 2019 General Elections Observation which report will soon be presented.
