AUST, RMRDC Revive Scholarly Journal, Nominate Prof Onwualu as Editor-in-Chief
The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, recently received a delegation from the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) for a strategic meeting aimed at revitalising a national scholarly journal and strengthening Nigeria’s research visibility on the global stage.
In his opening remarks, the President of AUST,Prof.Azikiwe Peter Onwualu,FAS, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing high-quality research and academic publishing. He emphasised the importance of credible, internationally recognised journals in enhancing institutional reputation and boosting national research output. He expressed strong support for the nomination as Editor-in-Chief of the journal, noting that experienced leadership would be critical to achieving global standards. He further assured the delegation of AUST’s readiness to collaborate through technical expertise, institutional support and strategic partnerships to drive the journal’s transformation.
Speaking on behalf of RMRDC, Dr Sab Ebiriekwe described the initiative as both timely and ambitious, framing it as a national effort that would require significant investment, coordination and international collaboration. He stressed that reviving and internationalising the journal would involve considerable financial and operational commitments, particularly in attracting reputable editorial board members and ensuring global visibility. Dr Ebiriekwe highlighted the importance of formalising leadership through the nomination of Professor Onwualu and proposed engaging international partners to enhance the journal’s credibility and reach.
Also speaking, the Dean of the School of Engineering at AUST, Dr Vitalis Anye, underscored the challenges faced by many Nigerian academics in meeting promotion requirements tied to internationally indexed publications. He noted that limited visibility in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science continues to hinder researchers’ career progression. Dr Anye advocated for deliberate capacity building, strengthened editorial structures and the adoption of digital publishing tools to ensure the journal meets global indexing standards. He added that reinforcing peer review processes and ensuring timely publication would be essential to building trust and attracting high-quality submissions.
Discussions during the meeting focused on practical steps to reposition the journal, including recruiting international editorial board members, organising conferences to generate quality submissions and leveraging digital platforms for seamless manuscript handling. Participants also identified key challenges such as delays in peer review, limited access to publishing tools, and the need for plagiarism detection and efficient submission management systems.
The meeting concluded with agreements to initiate formal communication with stakeholders, explore software and subscription options in collaboration with the ICT unit, and establish an online coordination platform to drive sustained engagement.
In attendance were Dr. Vitalis Anye, Dean of the School of Engineering; Ms.Nneoma Obimbonu, Secretary to the President; and Ms. Blessing Iweha, Administrative Assistant in the Media Services and Public Relations Unit. The RMRDC delegation included Dr. Sab Ebiriekwe, Dr. Olive I, Dr .Abubakar Abdulraman and Mr. Lukman A. Wahssd.
The engagement marks a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s academic publishing ecosystem and positioning the journal for international recognition.