Executive Order 5: Implication for Nigerian Academic Institutions

In recent times, the Nigerian academic landscape has been witnessing increased agitation for better funding.  This was necessitated by obsolete research facilities, increasing number of students amidst inadequate teaching and learning resources and poor funding of institutions.  It is no longer news that the current model of educational funding in Nigeria must be discussed with the participation of all stakeholders.  

President Muhammadu Buhari

On 5th February 5, 2018, President Muhammad Buhari signed into law "Executive Order 5".  This executive order, though not as popular as Executive Order 1 which addresses the ease of doing business in Nigeria, has significant implications for higher institutions in Nigeria.  Although it addresses the planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology, it can bolster the quality of education in Nigerian Universities if they can look beyond the free money. 

Minister of Education: Mr. Adamu Adamu

The vision of the executive order to "promote the application of science, technology and innovation in all sectors of the Nigerian economy" positions Nigerian institutions of higher learning for significant gains.   The executive order "gives preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts" (Section 1(1)), firms with verifiable plan for indigenous capacity development (Section 1(2)), "adopt local technology" (Section 1(6)), and "preference granted to domestic manufacturers, contractors and suppliers (Section 3(1))".   

In my own opinion, it is high time academics started creating spin-off companies from their researchers and Universities go beyond producing "pure" water and bread to competitive bidding for building and construction contracts, national security projects and national training programmes.   Just as institutions came together to form the Joint University Preliminary Examination Body, they can come together to build large scale industries.   Academics need to look up from their chalkboards and manuscript to see opportunities such as the funding proposed in Section 5(5) of Executive Order 5, incentives for building and infrastructural development material (Section 9(1c)), and tax incentives in Section 10(2).  With the disqualification from contract based on year of incorporation frowned at in Section 6, university-driven industries can compete favourably with established organization in bidding for contracts.

Executive order 5, like other Nigerian laws, have its obvious lacuna.   Section 5(4) encouraged the inclusion of public procurement process in the Secondary School curriculum!  Does our University curriculum cover the public procurement process?  This executive order has been in existence for over nine (9) months, do we know the secretariat of the Council at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (Section 12(1a))?   Section 12(6) listed members of the Presidential Monitoring and Evaluation Council with representatives of the academic community missing.  Nigerian academic are central to this executive order and deserve a place in the decision (or monitoring and evaluation) committee.

Where is my thesis?

For those who have gone through one or two stages of the Nigerian higher educational system, this question will not be strange.  After four or five years of study as an undergraduate, a student is expected to carry out an independent study in his/her field of study.  It is a rigorous, mentally tasking, time consuming and financially demanding task for every student.   Every student is expected to make four copies of the completed thesis - one for the student, one for the supervisor, one for the Department and the last for the University library (this might vary in some institutions).  The researches reported in this theses are supposedly carried out to solve or address specific societal problems.  It is a requirement for graduation from any higher institution in the country.

Let us put this into context. Assuming there are 20 universities in Nigeria.  Also assuming a total of 20 departments each with 50 students are in all the 20 universities.  Based on this assumptions, there are 20,000 thesis being submitted by undergraduates every year.   This implies that there exists 20,000 reports generated annually that directly (or indirectly) addresses various problems in our society.  Where are these theses?  To access any of these theses, you either know the student or the supervisor or apply to the Department or University library.  Yes, currently you cannot sit in your house and access any thesis within the country (except a few universities).

Why is it like this?  Let me give an unofficial explanation.  All thesis (undergraduate and postgraduate) are proprietary materials for the University.  I do not know of any other reason why theses are not online (if you know, kindly provide and i will update this article).  Well, if Federal and State institutions are funded by tax payers money, are the tax payers not entitled to the reports?  Do the institutions refund the students for the expenses incurred during the research work?  Did the student graduate without paying any school fees?  Is the claim to thesis as proprietary works actually valid? 

In my own opinion, academic theses should be readily available online in a variety of format.  One, it will reduce the rate of plagiarism among students as previous theses will be captured online.  Two, the availability of theses online will afford access by policy makers, industry experts and the general public for implementation.  Three, it is in line with best and emerging global trend in education.  Four, it serves as a means of preservation when hard copies of the theses are disposed or recycled (do we recycle?).  Five, it can generate income for the institution (http://ethos.bl.uk/Home.do). Six, will supervisors allow students go away with shoddy research work if their names will be appended to the online work? Methinks it will improve quality of research at all stages.

Where is your thesis?

 

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