Some solutions to the corruption in the Nigerian University System

Although I am not as lucky as the Professor in visiting so many universities as an accreditation panelist in Nigeria within the last two years, as a scholar within the Nigerian University system, I can confirm that the observations he made in that write up, although unfortunate, are largely correct. However, rather than add to […]

Although I am not as lucky as the Professor in visiting so many universities as an accreditation panelist in Nigeria within the last two years, as a scholar within the Nigerian University system, I can confirm that the observations he made in that write up, although unfortunate, are largely correct. However, rather than add to this list of the problems affecting the quality of teaching, research and learning in Nigeria, I would like to suggest some solutions to some of the problems you observed:
“Vanity Publications” and production of mercenary Scholars:  The problem of vanity publications could be addressed by ensuring that the promotion guidelines of universities are structured in such a way that this practice is neither encouraged nor rewarded. To do this, the National Universities Commission (NUC) must be ready to produce unambiguous minimum benchmarks for promotion to different academic ranks within the university system. Such a guideline must among other things, stipulate that:
1.    A certain absolute number or percentage of required minimum publications (for each rank) that the candidate must have made in journals that are internationally recognized (journals listed in Science Citation Index , Social Science Index and the equivalent for the Arts and Humanities, otherwise called ISI journals) This is because most of the so called “International journals” are now actually “anything goes” journals with little or no effective peer review mechanism, because many modern day publishers are scammers that are only interested in the amount of money earned as page charges: Publications in non-indexed journals, may, in some cases cost as much as $1500 as page charges.  If scholars would invest this money in their research, they could be able to generate quality data that are publishable in ISI –listed journals, which in most cases, charge little or no page charges at all.
2.    It is important that the promotion guidelines allow for a proportion of publications in non-indexed journals to encourage credible local journals to grow until they acquire the much desired ISI listing status.  However, rather than allowing journals to proliferate in the Departments and Faculties uncontrollably like cancerous cells within each University, I suggest that related faculties should be encouraged to join forces together to form only a few (3-5) university-wide journals, in addition to those being floated by relevant national professional bodies and associations. Journals established by these national professional associations should be adequately funded so as to prevent them from “sudden death syndrome” or “cash and carry” publishers.
Even among the proportion of publications allowed for in the non-indexed journals, there should be a limit on the number/proportion of papers a candidate can have in his/her university-based journals.
3.    To ensure that the rules are structured for better check and balances, a minimum Google scholar citations number should also be prescribed for candidates aspiring to any particular rank (say 200 to 500 for candidates to positions of Senior Lecturer and above, subject to 3-5 yearly upward review). Thus, in addition to the usual documents, all candidates for promotion would be required to generate and also be assessed by his/her Google scholar citation profile or other more specific and more specialized author impact factor generation software, that are also readily available now.
These measures will reduce the emergence of “accreditation Professors” and “mercenary lecturers”, thereby bringing some credibility and sanity into the Nigerian University system. In addition, it will bring justice and fairness that will produce a Nigerian University system which can take its rightful position as a major contributor to national development.
Mass Production of PhDs:  The issue of any department, faculty or University for that matter, becoming a PhD mill can be dramatically turned around , if part of the requirements for being awarded a PhD is for the candidate to have published between one and three papers (depending on the peculiarity of the field) in ISI-listed Journals. Come to think of it, under our situation in Nigeria, if a PhD research cannot produce quality research papers that are publishable in indexed journals, what other kind of research can?
It is unfortunate that some lecturers in some institutions under the active or passive cooperation of the management illegally receive so called “reading fees” for postgraduate seminar papers from their students. If the Federal Ministry of Education through the National Universities Commission would sanction a few Vice Chancellors and University Councils who are guilty are collaborating in such exploitative behavior, I am sure others with such tendencies will readily “repent” even without listening to the preaching of their religious leaders.
The last time I checked, a lecturer of the appropriate rank may serve as a visiting lecturer only to a limited number of other universities. Therefore, it is very possible that lecturers turning themselves into mercenaries by having their names on the staff list of more than the number allowed for visiting can be identified and punished; if it is proven that such arrangement have their consent. Proof of consent by evidence of collecting a pay from such universities is necessary because some unscrupulous University administrators are known to list the names of all relevant personnel who applied to their universities for sabbatical, visiting or other purposes as their staff for the sake of accreditation, although the individuals concerned may not have actually been issued a letter engaging him in any capacity.
The government at all levels can also contribute significantly to correcting the ills affecting the Nigerian University system, because the corruption and decay in the University system is a reflection of what is happening in the society. One needs an extremely good family upbringing and the fear of the Almighty God to produce the kind of high quality research and publications that will meet requirements without having to cut corners, if they are to be funded mainly by one’s meager salary. In addition to taking the issue of workers welfare seriously, the Government should, within its resources endeavor to adequately fund teaching, research and learning in educational institutions. I personally believe that teaching and research should be reserved for those who combine best brains with good character and passion for the profession, so that they can give their students/trainees opportunity to develop their full potentials.  If that is the case, then government should ensure that teachers at all levels are better paid than their contemporaries  in other professions so as to attract the best brains as well as discourage those among them that are vulnerable to corruption and foul play. If the best brains and best character are attracted into the teaching profession, the problem of vanity publishing, mercenary lecturers, greed, corruption and other problems observed quietly or openly by many  “home-based” intellectuals -even before Professor Iheduru came on a sabbatical  visit to Nigeria- will not even exist, or at worst, be reduced to a minimal level.
Sunday E. Atawodi is a professor of biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria