Instructions for Authors

Title

Capital and bold letters. Centralize all words.

Name of authors

Write names of all authors in full. Affiliations and addresses of authors should be clearly written.

Abstract

Write a comprehensive abstract that should summarize but capture your research aim, methods, findings and contribution to knowledge. Abstract is written in one paragraph not exceeding 1/3rd of a page.

Introduction

It contains the background information about your research, justification of your study, aim of study, specific objectives and scope of the study.

• Introduce what the research is all about.
• Capture previous work done in the focus area and sub theme.
• Connect this with the gap created that needs to be filled.
• At the end of your introduction, categorically state the aim of the research.

Materials and Methods

• Detail procedures of how the research was undertaken will be captured in this section.
• The format is reported speech (past tenses) in sequential order following the order of the research objectives. Data collection methods should be clearly stated.
• Sources of methods used should be cited.
• Methods of data analysis should be captured in this section.

Results

• Results are your findings. Report your findings in simple clear terms using appropriate grammatical expression.
• Results are presented as tables and graphs with appropriate titles.
• Information in each table/graph should be concisely stated.
• The format is reported speech (past tenses) following the order of your research objectives.
• State fully the content of each table/figure/plate before presenting the table/figure/plate.
• Make reference to the tables/figures/plates in the body of your results before presenting them. For example: "The graduating list in the Department of Crop Protection is presented in table 1. Three students graduated with First Class Degree (CGPA=5.0). They were: Agnes (Reg No), John (Reg No) and Yusuf (Reg No)".

• Table titles are written on top. Figure and Plate titles are written below them.
• Capitalize first letter of major words in titles.
• Use a 2-row system of tabulation as shown above.
• Provide keys/legends where necessary below the table.
• Provide appropriate inferential statistics below the table.

Discussion

• This is where the result section is interpreted, analysed, compared and contrasted with previous work and existing literatures backed by appropriate citations.
• The discussion should flow in order of the result section.
• Critically analyze the trend of your results.
• Provide possible theoretical basis that justifies your findings with appropriate citations.
• Compare the findings with previous work done within the focus area and sub theme. Are they similar or different?
• Discuss the work following how your results are presented.

Conclusion and Recommendations

This is a summary of the findings with contribution to knowledge. Conclude based on your findings alone. Specific recommendations are given based on the outcome of the research.

References

• All cited references in the body of the work must be listed alphabetically in this section.
• Ensure compliance with: authors' names, dates of publication, title of paper, journal name or publisher name, volume, issue number and pages.
• Note that years are within brackets and journal names are written in full and italicized.
• List them alphabetically (A-Z) without indent. Follow the format below:

Conflict of Interests Statement

Authors should indicate if there are conflicts of interest in the publication.