Implementing open access in a private nigerian university: A case study of covenant university

Most Nigerian universities have not evolved an Open Access culture (or policy) for access to and publication of research, technical and pedagogy information. The National University Commissions (NUC) - the regulatory body for university education in Nigeria is proposing such. Nevertheless, in its drive to attain world-class status, Covenant University (CU) has developed and adopted an Open Access Policy (OAP) on the use and sharing of research findings, as well as dissemination of technical and pedagogical information. At CU efforts are geared towards the entrenchment of an OA culture in the management of interactions on knowledge sharing and use. Since its introduction in November 2011, OA has been on a steady rise in awareness and application in various strata of the university's interactions both internally and in relation to the external context. CU through its OA office (OACU) engaged in awareness exercises to sensitize its researchers, faculty and other workers alike on OA issues as well as develop and adopt an OAP. At present, the university has a functional repository system (http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/) to which it requires faculty and staff to self-archive scholarly publications. The University runs a Green Open Access Journal (OAJ) platform comprising of seven journals (http://journals.covenantuniversity.edu.ng) covering the sciences to human development. Similarly, CU has adopted a publication and incentive system for its researchers and faculty that drives the publication of research works from the university in OA journals and conferences. The University only recently launched a lifelong teaching program and is about concluding the development of an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) policy to drive distance learning.