A Professor of Science Education at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Olakanmi Abimbola, has identified dearth of equipment, inadequate research infrastructure and supervisors, as well as the shortage of funding for students to conduct research, as the institutional challenges confronting postgraduate studies in Nigeria.
.
Prof. Abimbola made the submission on Tuesday August 12, 2014 in a keynote address he presented at the 47th meeting of the Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian Universities (CDPGS) themed "Implementation of BMAS for Postgraduate Training in Nigerian Universities."
.
The Keynote Speaker also noted that insufficient higher education institutions to maintain and expand infrastructure or attract staff funding of research; and strategic positioning of the doctoral schools are among the institutional challenges militating against postgraduate programmes in the universities.
.
In the keynote address entitled "Producing World-class Workforce through World-class Education: Postgraduate Programme Accreditation as an Answer", the lecturer also identified what he called "study and work conflict" as a major challenge to students.
.
He also noted that "insufficient time allocation, supervision overload, lack of overview of who each member of staff actually supervises and moonlighting in neighbouring universities" are some of the difficulties confronting postgraduate supervision.
.
Prof. Abimbola, however, canvassed the establishment of doctoral schools in the universities to redefine doctoral programmes and statutes, adding that the Nigerian university system is mature enough to have many formally designated research universities, beyond Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
.
He said, "It is desirable for all Faculties representing the different fields of study to mount Postgraduate Diploma programmes to accommodate interested and qualified HND holders in the Master degree programmes. This would go a long way in assisting the Federal Government to solve the festering problem of the terminal nature of HND programmes and their implications for career progression for the holders of the Diploma".