By Sunday Ameh
Education experts and members of the Institute of Educational Planning, Policy, Management, Project, Monitoring and Evaluation (IEPPMPME) have called on Nigerian universities to review compulsory Scopus publication requirements and introduce digital systems to end prolonged delays in postgraduate graduation.
The experts made the call during the Institute’s monthly policy discussion on “Repositioning Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: Addressing Delayed Graduation and Publication Requirements.”
The discussion centred on delays arising from proposal approval, supervision, ethical clearance, data collection, thesis examination, corrections and final clearance.
Participants also questioned whether requiring every postgraduate student to publish in a Scopus-indexed journal before graduation remains appropriate, particularly given publication costs, lengthy peer-review processes and differences among academic disciplines.
The Acting President of IEPPMPME, Dr. Ogunode Niyi Jacob, called for a time-bound digital postgraduate administration system covering the entire academic process.
Ogunode said proposal approval, supervision, ethical clearance, data collection, thesis examination, corrections and final clearance should operate within clearly defined timelines.
He also called for improved supervisor-student ratios, stronger accountability and better research methodology, statistical and academic-writing support.
On Scopus publication, Ogunode urged universities to review the compulsory requirement and recognise other credible peer-reviewed scholarly outputs where appropriate.
The Acting Deputy Registrar, Dr. Ayodele Ebunolu Nwisagbo, advocated a shift from bureaucratic postgraduate administration to a digitally enabled and student-centred system.
She proposed integrated platforms that would monitor admission, registration, proposal approval, ethical clearance, supervision, progress reporting, thesis submission, examination and final clearance.
Nwisagbo also called for clear supervisory responsibilities, monitoring of supervisors’ workloads and prompt reassignment of students where supervisors become unavailable.
She advocated research funding, writing clinics, methodology workshops and statistical support.
On publication, Nwisagbo argued that universities should focus on quality rather than adopt a uniform Scopus requirement across disciplines.
The Acting Registrar, Dr. Deborah Jegede, said universities must take greater responsibility for ensuring timely postgraduate completion.
Jegede recommended clear timelines and responsible officers for every stage of postgraduate programmes, supported by digital monitoring.
She also called for stronger supervision, reduced bureaucracy and improved research and academic-writing support.
On Scopus, she urged universities to reconsider making publication in Scopus-indexed journals compulsory for every postgraduate student, citing cost and lengthy publication processes.
Dr. Oweikpodor Vera G., called for standard timelines covering proposal approval, supervision, examination and final clearance.
She said digital platforms should be used to monitor students’ progress and identify bottlenecks before they become major obstacles to graduation.
Oweikpodor also urged universities to maintain strong publication standards while recognising reputable peer-reviewed outlets and providing research funding and publication guidance.
Dr. Christopher Ojo, a member of IEPPMPME, called for a proactive postgraduate management system based on regular progress monitoring and prompt resolution of supervisory challenges.
Ojo said the Scopus requirement should be reviewed rather than imposed as a blanket condition for graduation.
He maintained that research quality, originality and contribution to knowledge should remain at the centre of postgraduate assessment.
Olumide, PhD, a Board Member of IEPPMPME, called for realistic deadlines for proposal approval, supervision, examination and final clearance.
He recommended digital tracking and stronger accountability across postgraduate schools.
On publication, Olumide said universities should prioritise quality research instead of making publication in a particular database the sole graduation requirement.
Dr. Okolo Michael Monday recommended a performance-based monitoring system involving students, supervisors, examiners and administrators.
He called for regular reviews and digital tracking of pending tasks so that delays could be addressed immediately.
Okolo also recommended that Scopus publication should not be a uniform graduation requirement and that students should receive financial and academic support where it is retained.
Dr. Bukky Abbas Rashidat, a member of IEPPMPME, advocated continuous monitoring and early intervention.
She proposed that every postgraduate student should have a clear academic progress plan with specific deadlines for supervisors, examiners and administrators.
Rashidat also backed a flexible publication policy that recognises credible peer-reviewed journals and other scholarly outlets.
Afolabi Iyabode Omolola, PhD, recommended a one-stop postgraduate support system where students can obtain guidance on supervision, research ethics, proposal approval, examination and final clearance.
She proposed digital dashboards capable of showing the status of each student’s programme and flagging overdue actions.
Afolabi also called for publication grants, mentorship and adequate time for students required to publish in Scopus-indexed journals.
Dr. Adamu Awwal Salman said the solution to postgraduate delays lies in better coordination and shared responsibility.
He proposed a clear postgraduate calendar showing deadlines for students, supervisors, examiners and administrators.
Adamu also argued that Scopus-indexed publication should not be the sole measure of research achievement and called for recognition of credible peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Danjuma Stated that delayed postgraduate graduation should be treated as an institutional responsibility rather than solely a student problem.
He called for regular progress reviews and clear turnaround times for supervisors, examiners and administrative officers.
Danjuma also recommended a central digital monitoring system and a review of the Scopus requirement, with financial assistance and mentoring for students where publication remains mandatory.
Femi Akinlade called for the introduction of electronic submission and feedback in postgraduate supervision.
Akinlade argued that supervisors and examiners should accept students’ research drafts electronically and provide feedback digitally.
He said the measure would reduce the financial burden of repeatedly printing multiple copies of research work while accelerating feedback.
He also proposed semester-based progress reports, digital tracking and sanctions for avoidable administrative delays.
On Scopus, Akinlade called for a review of the blanket requirement and urged institutions to provide financial support, technical training and mentoring where it is retained.
Dr. Abubakar Musa, a member of IEPPMPME, identified delayed graduation and poor postgraduate programme quality as major challenges in Nigerian universities.
He proposed a “Time-Bound + Milestone” supervision framework, under which students, supervisors and Heads of Department would agree on specific academic milestones.
Musa also proposed panel supervision for PhD students and digital dashboards through which students could submit their work.
He recommended that supervisors provide feedback within specified periods, with unresolved delays escalated to departmental authorities.
Musa further proposed a first-year PhD research-methods programme covering advanced research methods, academic writing and publishing, data analysis, research ethics and grant writing.
He also advocated stronger funding, limits on excessive teaching duties, more frequent thesis defence sessions and clear timelines for external examiners.
Esther Akuh, PhD, called for simpler postgraduate procedures and clearer deadlines for supervisors, examiners and administrators.
She said regular interaction between postgraduate students, supervisors and school administrators would help identify and resolve problems before they become major obstacles.
Akuh also opposed a rigid application of the Scopus requirement, saying research quality and originality should receive greater consideration.
Dr. Ahaotu Godwin Ndubuisi called for a broader transformation of postgraduate schools into research, innovation and national development hubs.
Ndubuisi identified low research output, brain drain, inadequate funding, poor supervision, outdated curricula and weak institutional linkages as major challenges.
He advocated curriculum reviews to reflect emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, climate studies, agriculture and health.
He also called for digital postgraduate libraries, electronic thesis repositories, laboratories, virtual defence facilities and stronger partnerships with industries and foreign universities.
Ndubuisi further proposed functional postgraduate ICT centres, Turnitin access, stronger publication and patent policies, four-year PhD programmes, increased international exchange opportunities and annual publication of postgraduate performance reports.
Experts Reach Broad Consensus
Despite differences in emphasis, the contributors largely agreed that Nigerian universities need urgent reforms to reduce unnecessary postgraduate delays without lowering academic standards.
They advocated digital postgraduate administration, clear timelines, stronger supervisor and examiner accountability, continuous progress monitoring, research funding, improved staffing and stronger academic support services.
On Scopus publication, most contributors favoured a review of compulsory publication as a universal graduation requirement.
They argued that research quality, originality and contribution to knowledge should remain more important than database indexing alone.
However, they also acknowledged the value of high-quality publications for research visibility and academic competitiveness.
The contributors therefore recommended that where Scopus publication remains mandatory, universities should provide students with publication funding, technical support, mentorship and sufficient time to meet the requirement.
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