Some post-graduate students can’t defend their projects, UI dean laments

Jonathan Babalola, dean of the post graduate school, University of Ibadan (UI), says that some students can’t defend research projects they claim to have conducted.

Babalola, who made this statement on Monday, expressed concern over the quality of professionals being produced by the country’s universities.

Babalola spoke in Ibadan at a three-day graduate advanced seminar workshop on social science research methodology for post graduate students organised by the faculty of social sciences.

He said that evidence indicates that some post-graduate students have inadequate knowledge in their areas of specialisation while many cannot defend even the research projects they claimed to have conducted.

Babalola said that the post-graduate school has set up a committee to organise pseudo courses that will target specific students to guide and tutor them on what to do in their areas of specialisation.

Oluwatoyin Odeku, director of international programmes, urged the students to apply for international grants and scholarships to become global scholars.

She said that the university was committed to the internationalisation of its students through international exposure to global scholarship.

Ayodele Jegede, dean of the social sciences faculty, said that the seminar was organised to provide enhanced capacity building for doctoral students.

He said that 60 doctoral students were selected across departments in the faculty, adding that the workshop would create effective training for the students on multi–transdisciplinary methodology.

Jegede said that the students would be trained in data generation using quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

He said that Nigeria needs well-equipped researchers to solve its numerous social problems.