1. Building the Next Generation of Scholars in Nigeria: Practicalities and Challenges
Clifford Odimegwu
Professor of Demography and Population Health
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

2. Introduction Where I am coming from: My motivation
Who is the Next Generation in Nigeria’s Academia?
Changing Dynamics in International Academia or Scholarship
What does the NG need to take the position of the retiring generation?
Practicalities
Challenges
Our road map…

3. Where I am coming from: My Motivation
Education at IMSU, Ife
1999 Episode
Harvard as eye-opener
My Resolve to do things differently
Exploits in a foreign land…
My disappointment with Igbo/Nigeria scholarship

4. Who is the next generation?
Graduate students – Masters and PhD
New and Young academics – GA, AL, L2 and L1, Postdocs, Senior Lecturers
Research assistants/associates.

5. Changing Dynamics in International Academia
Globalisation
New standards and procedures of doing academic stuff including promotion
Internet age
New Publication outlets – Open access Journals
Journal Categorisation – Impact Factor
Younging of Academic Leadership – young professors taking up positions
Collaboration

6. Needs of NG …
For the NG of academics to be internationally competitive and globally relevance, the following are their needs
Quality Higher degree
Credible and quality publications
Patents
Promotions based on merits
Grants
International Exposure through conferences and networks/international connection..

7. Needs of NG.. Interpersonal skills
Continuing engagement with own field of research
A personal mentor

8. Practicalities The role of mentors
linking experienced colleagues with those of less experience to assist in training
building capacity in peers
walking alongside; eat-out
offering encouragement and advice
building confidence
providing an empowering and affirming milieu.

9. Practicalities … Developing a Research Agenda/focus
Developing a Research Plan [PhD admission to next 7 years]
Rethinking Integrity in Scholarship – all those cutting corners!
Professional ethics
Ethics of publishing
Publishing outcomes: General issues in publishing…
Conferencing
Proposals and Fund raising
Research development opportunities

10. Challenges … Survival instincts
Yahoo-Yahoo mentality [‘Igbu ozu ideology’]
New Ideas – Technological age – dynamic world
19th in 21st ideas
Funding landscape tightening

11. Characteristics of Graduate Students
Flexibility
Optimism
Motivation
Persistence and perseverance
Strong work ethic
Self-advocacy: ask questions, interact with supervisors and mates
Organisation
Consistency
Support

12. Graduate Study Game Plan : 4 stages
Getting Started
Got to be proactive – review PG and Dpt guidelines
contact and interact with your supervisors
learn about deadlines
Find out and attend all orientation sessions
Conduct a review of your career goals and objectives
First year
Mid-Programme
Near Completion

13. Game Plan …. First Year Identify your career goals Course work
Your thesis
Ethical clearance, if primary study
Mid-Programme
Review your progress
Present your research
Deal with stress and depression

14. Game Plan … Near Completion
The finish line
Overcome barriers
Plan your next step: do not wait to complete.

15. Graduate Studies Pathways to Success
Gradaute school success: skills in academic writing
Self Management: ability to manage stress and time
Professional effectiveness: range of skills and knowledge-related to such areas as communication, management, interpersonal interaction and ethical conduct
Career building: a proactive approach investigating options, develop competencies and learn how to present yourself
Developing leadership skills

16. Our Road Map..
Working with colleagues at PG School and Faculties, I will focus on the following:
Developing a research profile
Scientific Publishing
Graduate supervision
Professional skills empowerment – how to write competitive proposals, CV, and advancement strategies..
Training in Stata Software [if needed]
AOM!

17. Snapshots Doctoral Studies Academics Research Is doing a PhD worth it?
What is it like doing a PhD?
Academics
What makes a good teacher?
Managing student-supervisor relationship?
Teaching methods?
Research
Proposal development
Scientific writing processes
Where do you publish?

18. Snapshots Identifying Fake and Fraudulent Journals
Quantitative and Qualitative data Management:
Stata Software
Nvivo software

19. Snapshots Professionalization Ethics and values
Conferencing – writing acceptable abstracts for international conferences
Grant making
Preparing your CV

20. Finally …
The Journey has begun… and with hardwork, it is our hope you will be one of the future leaders of Nigeria intelligentsia that will be internationally competitive, exposed and globally relevant!