Azeez, Oladele Olayinka (Ph.D)

Public Private Partnership as a Veritable Strategy for Capital Project Management Delivery: A Multi-Sector Analysis in Nigeria.

My Ph.D investigated strategic management concerning public-private partnerships in Nigeria. Public-private partnership (PPP) is the collaboration of both the public and private sectors to deliver infrastructure or provide services jointly for the benefits of national development and economic growth. It is an established fact that governments world-wide lack both financial and managerial capability to deliver modern infrastructure to their citizens. Therefore, the need for public sector to collaborate with private sector becomes a strategic managerial factor. However, the government of Nigeria is yet to create an enabling environment for PPP to strive.

The study showed that PPP has injected new management skills into the public sector. Stakeholders agreed that the performance of public infrastructures has improved owing to private management principles introduced to manage them. Hence, private sector management drivers have reduced the process of executing public projects, and the willingness to take the risk by the private sector has led to the reduction of bureaucracy and delay in managing public sector projects. The dynamics in the private sector have helped to improve public sector management principles and culture in the delivery of public infrastructure and services. In general, the evidence suggests that PPP has led to reducing government spending, corruption, improved public sector organisational structure, and allowed transparency and open bidding in the award of a public contract. Similarly, the findings revealed that society is ready to accept PPP in the delivery of public infrastructure and services when compared to privatisation. However, the study discovered the level of awareness and education of the society as a strong factor in successful PPP execution of projects.

My Experiences

Ph.D. involves a lot of rigorous activities and discouragement along the way but being determined, firmed and focused, I was able to finish strong and well because “With God, nothing is impossible”. I started the programme in the year 2013 with no direction. The orientation programme was full of negative thoughts from all the discussions we heard. I registered for management, marketing and organizational behaviour courses.  I was given a supervisor and after three years into the programme, my supervisor was changed. This period was marred with different kinds of challenges such as incessant strikes by lecturers and Covid-19 in 2020. There were a lot of hurdles as well such as supervisors’ availability and timing, seminars, presentations at various stages, coping with course work, publications, writing of the thesis, and above all, financial hurdle.  In all, God proves His sovereignty.

Lessons Learnt

Some lessons I learnt include having a listening ear, being humble, ability to endure, tolerate others, being focused, determined and goal-oriented. The opportunity to read wide from other researchers both locally and internationally helped to have wide knowledge in PPP.

Future Outlook

Some recommendations and suggestion for further studies were made.  I look forward to the implementation of some these recommendations by concerned agents or organisations.  I also look forward to taking up a Post-doctoral appointment. I want to be a Consultant to government agencies, private agencies and others.

Expectations

After I retire from government service, I will set up an NGO which aligns with my thesis topic.  I will also pick up an appointment in any reputable University as an Associate Lecturer or a Visiting Lecturer.