Publish or Perish: Scholars’ Awareness and Perception of Scopus-Indexed Journals as a Requirement for Career Advancement in Nigerian Universities

The “publish or perish” culture has become a defining factor in academic career progression worldwide, and Nigerian universities are no exception. In response to concerns about research quality and the rise of predatory publishing, many Nigerian institutions have mandated Scopus-indexed journal publications as a key requirement for tenure and promotion. This study examines Nigerian scholars’ awareness, perceptions, and experiences regarding this policy, as well as its impact on research excellence and career advancement. Using a mixed-methods approach, data was collected from academics across federal, state, and private universities in Nigeria. The findings indicate widespread awareness of the Scopus publication requirement but reveal diverse perceptions regarding its fairness and feasibility. The study also revealed that journal articles happened to be the most important types of scholarly outputs for appointment and promotion of academic staff in Nigerian universities. While, many scholars acknowledge Scopus-indexed journals’ potential to enhance research quality and institutional rankings, concerns persist about academic freedom, financial constraints, and inequities between STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and non-STEM disciplines. Additionally, the study finds that institutional incentives for publishing in Scopus-indexed journals remain inconsistent, with federal universities offering more recognition-based rewards, while private universities provide financial incentives. However, a significant proportion of respondents reported the absence of any formal incentives, highlighting a major gap in research support. Notwithstanding, the Analysis of Variance results show a statistically significant difference in perceptions of incentives among respondents from federal, state and private universities. The study concludes that while the Scopus-indexing requirement has the potential to improve research standards, its effectiveness depends on addressing disciplinary disparities, financial barriers, and institutional support structures. To optimize the policy’s benefits, Nigerian universities should implement structured incentives, research funding programmes, and mentorship initiatives to support scholars, particularly early-career researchers and those in underfunded institutions.