The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Otuoke, Professor Promise Mebine, has urged postgraduate students to begin their thesis research with a comprehensive literature review rather than the introduction, stressing that the process is critical to identifying research problems and producing quality academic work.
Professor Mebine gave the advice on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the orientation programme organised by the university’s School of Postgraduate Studies for newly admitted students at its auditorium, West Campus themed, “Navigating Postgraduate Excellence: Building Research Capacity, Personal Competence And Leadership For Sustainable Development.”
In his remarks, Mebine expressed appreciation to the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Iheoma M. Adekunle, and her team for organising the programme, which he said was aimed at positioning fresh students for optimal academic performance.
Speaking on the importance of research methodology and timelines, the Vice-Chancellor said a literature review enables researchers to understand existing knowledge, identify gaps in previous studies and establish the rationale and direction of their research.
“Students ought to start their thesis research with a literature review and not the introduction as it were,” he said. “The literature review gives you the where, how, when and why of the research.”
He added that a thorough understanding of existing literature was essential to identifying and properly formulating a research problem, which he described as central to producing quality research.
According to Professor Mebine, “When you understand the literature, you understand the why of the problem…starting with the introduction is not right.”
He urged postgraduate students to take advantage of the literature review stage to attend academic conferences and workshops, engage with existing scholarship and critically assess previous studies in their respective fields.
He said such engagements would enable researchers to understand what had already been done, identify areas requiring further investigation and determine the way forward in their chosen fields.
Professor Mebine emphasised that both masters and doctoral students must develop the right research perspective and mindset while adhering to established procedures to achieve academic excellence.
He also identified professional confidence in research with the knowledge acquired, tools employed, methods applied and problems solved in the course of scholarly investigation.
The Vice-Chancellor said research should equip postgraduate students with the knowledge and competence needed to become future leaders, adding that leadership for sustainable development should guide lecturers and students in their contributions to institutional progress and global impact.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Ibebietei Temple Offor, underscored the importance of research in academic and professional engagements.
Professor Offor, an expert in educational measurement, said research remained essential to advancing knowledge and improving professional practice. She also cautioned students against overreliance on artificial intelligence in academic work, noting that while AI tools could support research, they should not replace critical thinking, in-depth inquiry and human insight.
Professor Amaefule, who spoke on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Professor Johnson Ohakwe, has emphasised curiosity and problem identification as essential foundations for excellent scientific research, cautioning against the practice of recycling existing research works without meaningful contributions to knowledge.
