Author Guidelines
Scope and Focus
The Niger Delta Research Digest (NDRD) publishes feature articles/papers, essays and book reviews on issues in development, peace and conflict resolution, environment and sustainable development, agriculture, language, culture and history. The focus of the journal is on the Niger Delta and it is published twice a year.
Types of Contributions
Feature Articles
Definition: A feature article is written by an expert on a certain topic.
Length: Minimum of 3,000 and maximum of 6,000 words, including the bibliography.
Abstract: Must include an abstract of about 250 words.
Keywords: Must include five key words.
Essays
Definition: An analytic, interpretive, or critical composition, usually dealing with its subject from a limited and often personal point of view.
Length: Minimum of 3,000 and maximum of 6,000 words.
Abstract: Must include an abstract of about 150 words.
Keywords: Must include five key words.
Book Reviews
Length: Minimum of 800 and maximum of 1,200 words.
Requirements: A book review must be accompanied by the following:
- Cover scan
- Title of the book
- Author(s)
- Publishers
- Place of publication
- Publishing date
- ISBN
- Number of pages
- Binding (paperback or hard cover)
Limitation: Book reviews are limited to books published within one year.
Submission Requirements
Important: Articles, essays and book reviews that are submitted for consideration may not have been published previously and may not currently be under review for possible publication elsewhere.
- Format: Contributions should be sent in electronic format in MS Word.
- Author Details: Complete details of the author(s), including title, preferred name and surname, designation, organisation, postal and electronic mail address are required.
- Timing: Unsolicited papers can be submitted any time of the year.
- Copyright: Copyright of contributions appearing in the journal is vested in the Institute for Niger Delta Studies, Niger Delta University, Nigeria.
- Peer Review: Manuscripts undergo a peer review process to ensure appropriateness for publication and outstanding quality.
- No Fees: The journal does not pay honorarium to contributors. Similarly, contributors are not required to pay any fee for publication.
Formatting Guidelines (House Style)
- Abbreviations and acronyms should be given in full when they occur for the first time, with the abbreviation/acronym in brackets.
- Quotation marks: Single quotation marks are used to indicate concepts, terms or self-made words, as well as quotes taken from another source.
- Long quotations: Quotations longer than two sentences should be indented on both sides and no quotation marks are necessary.
- Italics: Titles of books, periodicals, etc, as well as foreign language phrases and words, should be italicized.
- Headings: A maximum of three levels should be used for headings, with the difference between levels clearly indicated.
- Spelling: American or British spelling can be used, but the usage should be consistent and not mixed.
Reference Style
The journal uses the Harvard style of referencing. In-text referencing should be used (Ake, 1981). At the end of the paper, a reference list that is arranged in alphabetical order should be provided.
Books
Format: Surname, initials (year), title of book, publisher, place of publication.
Example:
Ikein, A.A. (1991), The Impact of Oil on a Developing Country: The Case of Nigeria, Evans Brothers Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Book Chapters
Format: Surname, Initials (year), "Title of Article", editor's surname, initials, title of book, publisher, place of publication.
Example:
Mbanefoh, G.I. & Egwakhide, F.O. (1998). "Revenue Allocation in Nigeria; Derivation Principle Revisited", in Kunle, A.S., Agbaje, A. and Herault, G. (eds), [Book Title], [Publisher], [Place].
Journal Articles
Format: Surname, Initials (year), "Title of Article", Journal name, volume, number and pages.
Example:
Efe, S.I. (2011) "Climate Change and Flood Hazards in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria" in Niger Delta Research Digest Vol 5 No 2 pp43-60.
Newspapers and Magazines
Format: Surname, Initials (year), "Title of Article", name of newspaper/magazine, place of publication, pages.
Example:
Fabiyi, O. & Olatunji, S. (2010), "Again, Zoning Splits Northern Governors", Punch Newspaper, Lagos Nigeria, pp1-2.
Conference/Workshop Papers
Format: Surname, Initials (year), "Title of Article", Conference/workshop theme, name of organizers, place where conference was held.
Example:
Ukiwo, U. (2008) "Horizontal Inequalities and Insurgency in the Niger Delta", paper presented at the International Conference on the Nigerian State, Oil Industry and the Niger Delta, Organized by the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, in Collaboration with the Institute for Applied Environmental Research, Department of Geosciences, University of Missouri Kansas City, USA, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Published Conference Proceedings
Format: Surname, initials (year), "chapter title", editor's surname, initials, title of book, publisher, place of publication, pages.
Example:
Dare, L.O (1979), "Perspectives on Federalism", in Akinyemi, A.B, Cole, P.D, & Ofonagoro, W (eds), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria, pp.26-35
Electronic Sources
Requirement: Supply URL at the end of reference if available online.
Submission Contact
Contributions should be sent by e-mail to:
The Editor-in-Chief
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +234 (8032169015)