Scholars have called for urgent reforms in Nigeria's doctoral education system, citing concerns over low PhD output, prolonged completion periods, and weak links between university research and national development. The call was made at the Nigeria In-Country Inception and Design Workshop on Transforming Doctoral Education in Nigerian Universities, organised by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and the Carnegie Corporation in Abuja. The workshop brought together officials from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and university leaders.
The Project Principal Investigator of the PhD Models in Africa study, Prof. Ayo Ojebode, highlighted that Africa has only about 0.3 per cent of its population holding PhDs, creating a significant manpower gap. He stated that the study, being conducted in seven African countries, aims to examine supervision, completion periods, students' experiences, and successful doctoral models that could be replicated. The study seeks to respond to the manpower gap and improve the quality of PhDs.
Prof. Ojebode emphasized that the project is not focused on an academic or research gap but rather on addressing the manpower gap. He also highlighted that the study will examine the quality of the PhD and the humanity of the journey that doctoral students undergo before completing their degrees. The study's findings are expected to inform reforms in Nigeria's doctoral education system.
The Nigeria Country Principal Investigator, Prof. Fatai Aremu, stressed that doctoral research must be redirected towards solving societal problems rather than producing theses that end up unused on university shelves. He urged universities to shift from focusing on research topics to identifying problems that doctoral studies should address. Aremu also called for continuous training of supervisors and improved research infrastructure.
Prof. Aremu emphasized that candidates should not spend 10 or 15 years pursuing doctoral degrees. He advocated for a situation where students can complete their PhDs within the stipulated term. Aremu's comments were echoed by PASGR's Head of Finance and Administration, Constance Furaha Mohunga, who stated that the study aims to identify a doctoral model that could improve access, funding, completion, and research impact across Africa.
Mohunga noted that even graduation rates vary across countries, with South Africa having high rates, followed by Nigeria, and Kenya trailing behind. She emphasized that the ultimate goal is to produce researchers whose work will influence policy and development across the continent. The study's findings are expected to inform the development of a doctoral model that can be implemented in Nigerian universities.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to examine PhD supervision, funding, research quality, and policy frameworks. The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and the Carnegie Corporation are driving the study, which is being conducted in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, and South Africa. The study's outcomes are expected to contribute to the reform of Nigeria's doctoral education system.
Key points
- Scholars call for urgent reforms in Nigeria's doctoral education system to address low PhD output and prolonged completion periods.
- The study aims to identify a doctoral model that could improve access, funding, completion, and research impact across Africa.
- The ultimate goal is to produce researchers whose work will influence policy and development across the continent.
