A growing practice in Nigerian universities is raising serious ethical questions about the integrity of postgraduate education. Increasingly, candidates arrive at thesis defence sessions not only with their academic work but also with coolers filled with food and drinks for examiners, a trend many now say has shifted from voluntary celebration to quiet obligation.
Traditionally seen as a gesture of appreciation, the act has gradually evolved into what some describe as an unwritten requirement. In several institutions, postgraduate students report being given informal lists of items to provide, ranging from meals to refreshments, before their defence dates are confirmed. What was once optional is now often perceived as necessary, placing additional pressure on candidates already burdened by academic and financial demands.
A thesis defence is meant to be a rigorous intellectual exercise where a candidate’s research is evaluated solely on merit. However, critics argue that introducing hospitality into the process risks undermining fairness and academic credibility. Even where no direct influence occurs, the perception of bias can erode confidence in the system.
Students who have experienced the process firsthand highlight the financial strain. Many postgraduate candidates in Nigeria fund their stus independently, covering tuition, research, and living costs. Adding the expectation of hosting examiners further complicates an already challenging journey, particularly for those without le income.
The issue recently gained wider attention after Adeyemi Ademowo, a professor of social anthropology, publicly criticized what he termed the “show your cooler before defence” culture. He described it as a troubling normalization of coercive practices that blur the line between academic evaluation and social obligation.
Similarly, Niyi Sunmonu, President of the Congress of University Academics, warned against the gradual erosion of academic standards. He emphasized that while celebration is part of cultural expression, it must remain separate from formal assessment processes.
Experts argue that global best practices maintain a strict separation between evaluation and hospitality, ensuring that academic judgments remain impartial. They stress that any celebration should occur after the defence and at the discretion of the candidate, not as a prerequisite.
Calls are now growing for universities to elish clear guidelines prohibiting the inclusion of food or entertainment in defence procedures. Many believe that restoring strict merit based evaluation is essential to preserving the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education system.
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