Nigerian Academics Research Articles

Exploring the Fences and Gains of Data Sharing Practices: From the Perception of Some States in North East Nigerian Academics

Exploring the Fences and Gains of Data Sharing Practices: From the Perception of Some States in North East Nigerian Academics

Towards global visibility of scholarly communication of Nigerian university academics

One of the altmetrics for measuring the global ranking of universities by the Times Higher Education is web visibility of universities which is partly determined by research activities undertaken by them. Across the globe, universities are set up with tripartite mission of teaching, research and community service. The university system represents one of the most concentrated communities of scholars engaging in research activities leading to new discoveries, innovations and the creation of new knowledge, thus expanding the frontiers of knowledge. The output of research activities undertaken by academics when published and disseminated through various platforms to different community of practice, can be a basis for further research or the findings can be implemented, thus impacting the larger society, the nation and the global world at large. Despite the rigour of undergoing research projects, poor visibility of research output had been reported in some African studies. Hence, this study critically examines how scholarly communication among academics in Nigerian universities can gain global visibility and more impact. Based on these identified gaps, the paper examines scholarly communication of research outputs by reviewing related empirical studies on visibility of research outputs among university academics in Africa and Nigeria; and develops a framework for advancing global visibility of research outputs among Nigerian academics.

Looking Beyond The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): Implications and Prospects for Nigerian Academics

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has brought about significant changes in various aspects of society, including education. This study aims to explore the implications and prospects of the 4IR for Nigerian academics. A qualitative research approach was used, and an online open-ended survey was conducted to gather data from Nigerian academics on their perceptions of the 4IR, the specific skills and knowledge areas they deemed important to succeed in the 4IR era, and their preparedness in these areas. The survey also aimed to explore the perceived opportunities and challenges of the 4IR for Nigerian academics and the role that higher education institutions could play in preparing them for the 4IR era. The data collected from the survey were analyzed thematically, and the study provided insights and conclusions that contributed to the existing literature on the implications and prospects of the 4IR for Nigerian academics. The results indicate that Nigerian academics perceive the 4IR as a significant opportunity, but they also recognize the challenges it presents. Participants identified several skills and knowledge areas as crucial for success in the 4IR era, including data analytics, critical thinking, and problem-solving. However, the study found that Nigerian academics feel inadequately prepared in these areas. The study highlights the need for higher education institutions to play a more significant role in preparing Nigerian academics for the 4IR era by developing new curricula, providing training opportunities, and creating partnerships with industry stakeholders. The findings of this study could inform policies and practices aimed at preparing Nigerian academics for the 4IR era, which could ultimately enhance Nigeria's economic growth and competitiveness in the global market. The study adhered to ethical considerations and institutional policies on research ethics.

Covid-19 Lockdown and the ‘Work-From-Home’ Approach: The Effect on Nigerian Academics

This article investigates the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown and the ‘work- from-home’ approach on academic activities in Nigeria, using bivariate and multivariable regression. The results show that factors such as inadequate power supply, electricity access, workspace and access to research materials, health status and care for children and the elderly during the Covid-19 lockdown were significantly associated with a decline in the time devoted to academic work. On the other hand, virtual teaching or learning and the ability to work from home more often had positive and statistically significant effects on weekly work hours. The study also finds that Covid-19 lockdowns had a stronger negative effect on female researchers than their male counterparts. The implication is that a prolonged lockdown will harm the education system in Nigeria by negatively affecting research outcomes in terms of weekly work hours. Thus, the recommendations emanating from the findings are discussed in the article.

An exploration of the practices of locational flexibility in developing economies: insights from the Nigerian higher education sector

PurposeThis study explores the practices of locational flexibility in the Nigerian higher education sector. It examines the realities of remotely organising and managing academics' teaching and administrative workload, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachRelying on the interpretative paradigm, the dataset consists of semi-structured interviews with 92 professionals in the Nigerian higher educational institution (HEI) sector drawn from private and public federal government-owned and regional (otherwise known as state government) tertiary institutions.FindingsThe study highlights the practices of locational flexibility across the Nigerian higher education sector. Therefore, it underscores the notions of locational flexibility from the perspective of Nigerian academics. It reveals a paucity in the range and usage of locational flexibility options across the Nigerian higher education sector, as well as the factors shaping its implementation and utilisation. Ultimately, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings reveal that locational flexibility is predominantly environmentally induced.Originality/valueThis study focused on a salient topic that explores the practices of locational flexibility, particularly in an underresearched context of developing economies, specifically Nigeria. Moreover, the study contributes to the scarce literature on locational flexibility. Additionally, unlike previous studies that are mostly preoccupied with the meaning of the concept and the importance of the practice to employees' work-life balance, organisational flexibility, and overall operational performance, this study underpins the practices, utilisation and barriers to implementing locational flexibility.

The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship between Perceived Union Instrumentality and Workplace Deviance: Does Industrial Relations Climate Matter?

The harmful effects of workplace deviance constitute a significant concern on a global scale. However, it is alarming the scope it has assumed among Nigerian academics. This study aimed to investigate the influence of perceived union instrumentality on workplace deviance and whether the industrial relations climate can moderate the relationship. The study drew from exit-voice and social exchange theories to achieve the research objectives. In a cross-sectional design, data from 211 academics from federal polytechnics in Northwestern Nigeria were analysed using Partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that perceived union instrumentality significantly and negatively affected workplace deviance. As expected, job satisfaction was found to mediate the relationship between union instrumentality and workplace deviance. Similarly, the industrial relations climate was found to moderate the relationship significantly and negatively between union instrumentality and workplace deviance. The study bridges significant theoretical gaps in the literature by using exit-voice theory and social exchange theory to explain employees’ deviant behaviour. Moreover, exploring the mediation mechanism by which perceived union instrumentality influences workplace deviance helps close critical knowledge gaps in labour relations and deviant workplace behaviour literature. The result suggests that Government and management of Nigeria's higher education institutions need to address the rising incidence of workplace deviance by accommodating the demands of labour unions and fostering harmonious labour relations. However, the cross-sectional design of this study and the fact that only federal polytechnics were used as samples limit the findings' generalizability. Other implications and recommendations for future research were discussed.

Research Productivity of Academics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences Disciplines in Nigerian Universities: A Cross-sectional Multi-stage Cluster Study

Background: Research is the act of inquiry to know and is one of the pivotal points and fundamental goals of a university. It is an important part of an academic job and is believed to be the next most valued part of their duty after teaching. Objectives: This study aims to determine the research productivity of Nigerian academics in medicine and allied health sciences disciplines in Nigeria. Methodology: 177 participants completed a 41- items questionnaire that elicits information on sociodemographic, the institution, the program, and research productivity (research papers, conferences attendance and presentation, and book chapters) using a multistage cluster random sampling of Nigerian Universities. Results: Majority of the included participants were male (70.06%), married (79.14%), and below the senior teaching cadre (38.99%). Majority of the academicians do not have any training overseas (67.06%) and have indicated time as a constraint to research productivity (67.06%). Three papers in the past two years is an indication that Nigerian academics in the medical and allied health sciences, on average, may not be deemed to be highly productive. Professors (16.58+27.14) and those in higher ranks (Readers: 11.84+11.22 and senior lectures 12.58+13.53) have published more papers than their counterparts in the junior cadre (lecturer I and II: 4.87+6.58 and 2.69+3.87). Academics in the present study has a median research grant of zero in the past two years. A simple majority of the participants (55.29%) agree on mandating of PhD for promotion and career advancement of academics. There is no difference in the number of papers published (6.04+10.52 and 7.62+13.21) or conferences attended (7.42+19.14 and 4.04 +4.02) between academics in private and public Universities. Conclusion: Apparently low and dismal productivity by these academics in medicine and allied health sciences affirm the need for capacity building on an ongoing basis.

The impact of COVID-19 on the work–life balance of working mothers: evidence from Nigerian academics

Purpose Given the limiting gender role conditions arising from the prevalence of patriarchy in Nigeria and the shift to workers staying at home due to the deadly spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), this article aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work–life balance of professional mothers using the work–home resources model as a conceptual lens.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data is based on telephone interviews with 28 married female university academics with children.FindingsThe findings reveal that the confinement policies enforced due to the need to combat the spread of COVID-19 and patriarchal norms deeply embedded in the Nigerian culture have exacerbated stress amongst women, who have needed to perform significantly more housework and childcare demands alongside working remotely than they did prior to the pandemic. The thematic analysis showed a loss of personal resources (e.g. time, energy, and income) resulting in career stagnation, health concerns, and increased male chauvinism due to the abrupt and drastic changes shaping the “new normal” lifestyle.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the emerging global discourse on the profound negative consequences of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of millions, with a focus on the stress and work–family challenges confronting women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian – unlike Western cultures.Originality/valueThe article provides valuable insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected professional working mothers in the sub-Saharan African context, where literature is scarce.

Evaluation of the Relationship between Covid-19 Pandemic and Research Productivity among Academic and Medical Staff Of Public Universities and Hospitals in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study evaluates the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and research productivity among academic and medical staff of public universities and hospitals in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Correlational research design was used in this study. The researchers purposively used 2,543 respondents with 2 public universities and 2 public hospitals as the population of the study. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 228 respondents with the same number of public universities and hospitals. The instrument used for data collection was COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic and Medical Staff Research Productivity (COVID-19 PAMSRP). The instrument was validated by the experts using e-face validity and the reliability index was 0.93 using Cronbach alpha method. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r) was used for the analysis. The findings from the study revealed that, there was negative relationship between COVID-19 pandemic on academic and medical staff research productivity in Nasarawa State. By implication, COVID-19 pandemic affects both academic and medical staff. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that both school and medical management should organize conferences, seminars and workshops for staff in such a way that it would improve the levels of their research productivity and services delivery for the safety of lives and Nigerian academics and medical staff should engage in reliable research that will lead to development and innovations for the improvement of education and health sectors.
 Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, research productivity

Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Factors and Ekiti State’s Youth Involvement in Agriculture

Out of many other options to increase sustainable production of foods to feed its teeming population, Nigerian academics now focus on the possibility of motivating the youths into action in a labour intensive drive; finding reasons why Nigerian youths are not taking to farming. It is well known that a lot of young college and university graduates left the shores of Nigeria only to be engaged by strangers in cultivating plantations in foreign lands as a mean of livelihood. The shame of their discovery and the inability to raise adequate funds with which they would return home eventually keep them in long servitude abroad. Moreover, a lot of studies have ensued in regard of this, but none has been done or reported on Ekiti youths. This study fills the gap. A sample of 300 respondents from the population was drawn using multistage sampling method. Five focal questions were raised in the study and two hypotheses were generated and tested (at 0.05 level of significance) using the chi-square inferential statistical method. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire; the research design can be best described as a descriptive survey. Study unveiled that what youths really need most in Ekiti to encourage them in taking on agriculture include finance, awareness, training, fertile land, loan facility, power supply, loan facility, power supply, improved seedlings, fertilizer/agrochemicals availability, and machinery among others.

Toyin Falola@65 Conference: African Knowledge and Alternative Futures

A defining moment for me at the Toyin Falola@65 Conference titled “African Knowledges and Alternative Futures” that ran from the 29th to the 31st of January 2018 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, was the declaration at a paper presentation session by a scholar from a Nigerian university that the culture of making promotion of Nigerian academics dependent on publication in journals outside Nigeria, particularly from the West, is ultimately counterproductive to the development of a robust academic culture in Nigeria. “Do US or British academics, for example, have to publish in Nigerian journals?” he asked. This loaded question is at the heart of the challenges and paradoxes provoked by the conference. Another definitive encounter for me was another presenter’s outlining of the concept of an African, as different from an Asian or a Western epistemology or way of arriving at relating to knowledge. Yet another was Emmanuel Ofuasia’s explanation of what he describes as the Yoruba origin Ifa knowledge system’s anticipating of deconstructivist hermeneutics centuries before the development of this post-modern scholarly phenomenon in the West. Complementing these occurrences is yet another represented by Dr. Joan Ugo Mbagwu expounding on indigenous methods of conflict resolution and countering terrorism in Africa. I shall use these encounters as pivots in exploring the significance of the conference in the body of this essay.

Rhetorical Pattern of Argumentation in the Research Article: A Corpus Approach

Academic writing is an argumentative entity carefully crafted to project specific desired knowledge claims. Writers engage in the use of particular rhetorical structure devices to advance arguments and negotiate knowledge in order to persuade and convince an academic audience. This corpus based study examined the rhetorical schemeta (e.g. definition, evaluation, centrality claim) often deployed by Nigerian academics in the cross disciplinary fields of language arts and natural science to advance arguments in research articles. The study aimed at identifying how academic writers project knowledge claims in the research article. Three key objectives underlying this study were to identify elements used in staking claims, determine the patterns such elements follow and their communicative functions. The data for the study were 20 comparable research articles derived from two academic sub-corpora (10 academic writing humanities and 10 academic writing natural sciences) of the International Corpus of English Nigeria (ICE). Analysis of the data was done using AntMover software analyser. The study revealed, for instance, that the academics frequently used specific types of rhetorical devices that varied in their schemes more than some other types. The study has implications for academic writing and reader comprehensibility.

The ‘outward/inward-looking principle’: Akìwowo and the sociology of development in Africa

ABSTRACT Akìwowo’s vision and scholarship were very much impacted by his historical context. Most of his work was conducted after independence when the issue of development was upmost in the minds of Nigerian academics. Born in 1922, he was an elder among the post-independence scholars who sought to help move the new nation forward. This paper focuses on the distinct ideas Akìwowo brought to this endeavour. It was the area in which I had the most discussions with him and in which I collaborated on a publication. I focus on (1) the context within which his ideas developed, (2) his perspective on indigenous sociologies and (3) his output. Akìwowo’s concerns in the 1970s are still with us as is clear from Burawoy’s Presidential address at the International Sociological Association meetings in Japan, 2014, and the ongoing work of sociologists and social scientists from other regions of the world.

The challenges of digital divide and the use of web 2.0 platforms as knowledge sharing tools among Nigerian academics

This paper investigates the challenges affecting knowledge sharing among lecturers using web 2.0 platforms to meet the requirements of the digital age of the 21st century. Knowledge sharing is an exchange of skills, ideas, experience, and understanding among people. The study is base on the digital divide theory, which focuses on discrepancies or inequality of access to the Internet and technological devices. The survey method is adopted, involving 1,287 respondents sampled conveniently from the 13 faculties of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Data was successfully retrieved from 1047 respondents, representing 81.9% and was presented and analyzed through descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the most significant challenges facing users of web 2.0 platforms are the high cost of data, and an unstable power supply. The result indicates that the most used social media by the academic lecturers of Ahmadu Bello University is WhatsApp, while the most used educational resource site is ResearchGate. The study recommends that the challenge of the high cost of data should be solved by providing uninterrupted broadband and free Internet facilities. The qualitative method should be used to further this study to have users of these platforms from more than one institution.

BREACH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACTS AND DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIOUR IN NIGERIAN ACADEMICS

This study explored the breach of psychological contracts and discretionary behaviour by Nigerian academics. A survey was employed to elicit information from 378 academics that were randomly selected from 7,131 academics in federal universities in the North-Central Nigeria. The results from the hypotheses testing revealed that most of the universities in the North-Central zone did not comply with the psychological contract (as supported by the negative results from statistical estimates and Levene’s t-values). There was a positive correlation between breach of psychological contract and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) as well as positive relationship between breach of psychological contract and deviant workplace behaviour (DWB) (r=0.196; p<0.05 and r=0.126; p<0.05, respectively). The breach of psychological contract has influenced academics in different ways showing a tendency for OCB and DWB. Unfortunately, the tendency for DWB outweigh that of OCB. Therefore, academics who uphold OCB despite the perceived BPC should be encouraged to sustain their good behaviour.

BREACH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACTS AND DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIOUR IN NIGERIAN ACADEMICS

This study explored the breach of psychological contracts and discretionary behaviour by Nigerian academics. A survey was employed to elicit information from 378 academics that were randomly selected from 7,131 academics in federal universities in the North-Central Nigeria. The results from the hypotheses testing revealed that most of the universities in the North-Central zone did not comply with the psychological contract (as supported by the negative results from statistical estimates and Levene’s t-values). There was a positive correlation between breach of psychological contract and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) as well as positive relationship between breach of psychological contract and deviant workplace behaviour (DWB) (r=0.196; p<0.05 and r=0.126; p<0.05, respectively). The breach of psychological contract has influenced academics in different ways showing a tendency for OCB and DWB. Unfortunately, the tendency for DWB outweigh that of OCB. Therefore, academics who uphold OCB despite the perceived BPC should be encouraged to sustain their good behaviour.

Perceptions towards research data sharing: A qualitative study of Nigerian academics

Open science provides transparency to research processes by means of open data as data sharing initiates. The need for data sharing among scholars and researchers was evident, the uptake however is slow due to the benefits and detriments of the practices. This paper explores the perceptions of Nigerian academics towards research data sharing practices. Participants from five universities in Nigeria were purposively sampled. Data were gathered through interviews with 22 participants. Their perception towards data sharing was reflected through their awareness, understanding and familiarity of the practice. Most of the participants perceived that data sharing would add value to their professional reputation and fast-track their research progression, however a few of them perceived data sharing as disquieting. The academics labelled data privacy and cultural orientation to be those risks associated with data sharing. The study provides deeper understanding of data sharing and the opportunity for academics to know diverse insights of data sharing practices that would guide scholars in intensifying a variety of data management services, which then can be personalized to their exclusive needs. Further investigation could be done through quantitative research approach to inform data sharing behavior in a larger scale in order to improve the current practices.

Nigerian Academics Patronizing Predatory Journals

This study examines why Nigerian academics are patronizing predatory publishers and the implications of this for scholarly communication in Nigeria. The study pursued a qualitative method of face-to-face interviews to collect data from twenty-five academics from five universities in South West Nigeria. Five research questions guided the collection and analysis of data. The results confirmed that Nigerian academics are patronizing predatory journals. These journals are characterized by rapid publication, article-processing fees, a lack of peer review, and aggressive advertisement that cajoles authors into publishing with them. The reasons why Nigerian academics patronize predatory journals include desperation at the thought of missing out on promotion, long waits for reviews from reputable journals, deficient information literacy, and inadequate knowledge of the journals in their specific subject area. The findings also confirmed that younger, newly recruited, and inexperienced Nigerian academics are those most likely to patronize predatory journals. The implications of this practice are that Nigerian academics will concentrate less on conducting quality research and that researchers elsewhere in the world will lose trust in the ability of Nigerian academics to conduct quality research. The study ends with recommendations for ameliorating the situation: measures such as putting a solid orientation and mentorship program in place for younger academics, formulating institutional policies for scholarly publication, and creating standard accredited lists of journals that restrict where Nigerian academics can publish.

Investment Marketability and Future Sustainability of Potential Retirees Among Nigerian Academics in Selected Tertiary Educational Institutions

Every retiree is expected to have confidence in government compensation after active service but unfortunately the situation has changed to the extent that senior citizens are now expected to determine alternative investment that can enrich the sustainability of potential retiree lecturers. Most studies on retirees were generally on workers but not potential retiree lecturers in Nigeria. The study was carried out to determine the impact of investment marketability on the retirement investment goals of steady income stream of potential retiree lecturers in Nigeria academia. The study adopted survey research design. The study used 5,805 lecturers from both public and private tertiary institutions that were Universities and Polytechnics. A sample of 487 was determined using Taro Yamane formula. Validated questionnaire was used in collecting primary data with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.75. The study recorded retrieval rate of 83.4%. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis which was done using SPSS version 20. The study showed that investment marketability had significant effect on future sustainability of potential retiree lecturers because the result showed that there was a significant relationship between investment marketability and retirement investment goals (β1 = 0.278, R2 = 12.4%, p< 0.05).The study concluded that investment marketability lead to future sustainability of potential retiree lecturers and equally recommended that government should encourage every individual to plan means to invest in financial asset due to high rate of convertibility for employee, especially lecturers.

Psychological contracts and discretionary behaviour in Nigerian academics

Psychological contracts and discretionary behaviour in Nigerian academics