Nigerian Scholars Demand Reform for PhD Education System

Scholars have called for urgent reforms in Nigeria's doctoral education system, citing issues such as low PhD output, prolonged completion periods, and weak connections between university research and national development. This call was made during the Nigeria In-Country Inception and Design Workshop on Transforming Doctoral Education in Nigerian Universities, organized by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and the Carnegie Corporation in Abuja.

Prof. Ayo Ojebode, the Project Principal Investigator of the PhD Models in Africa study, noted that Africa has only about 0.3% of its population holding PhDs, indicating a significant manpower gap. Prof. Fatai Aremu, the Nigeria Country Principal Investigator, emphasized the need for doctoral research to focus on societal problems rather than producing unused theses.

He advocated for continuous training of supervisors and improved research infrastructure to ensure candidates complete their degrees within a reasonable timeframe. Constance Furaha Mohunga from PASGR stated that the study aims to identify a doctoral model that enhances access, funding, completion, and research impact across Africa.