Exploring the global visibility of African scholarly communication: a comparative analysis of open access repositories in Africa

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/FT.2024.005

Keywords

Open Access Repositories, African repositories, African Scholarly Communications, Scholarly output visibility, OpenDOAR, Digital repositories

Abstract

Purpose: This paper is a comparative study of repositories in Africa for the global visibility of African scholarly communication. It aims to provide a detailed description and comparison of repositories in Africa by region, country, repository type, year established, content type, software type, and language of content.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a systematic content review methodology, and a total enumerative sampling technique, a total of 259African repositories drawn from the Directory of Open Access Repositories database over one week were reviewed.

Findings: The study revealed that out of the 5,905 repositories listed, 259 are from Africa. The repositories are spread across 24 out of the 54 countries that make up the continent, thus making a 44% representation of African scholarly communication by countries in the global space. By region, Eastern Africa had the highest number at 101 (39%) repositories invariably becoming the African region with the most visible scholarly communication, while Central Africa had the least number of OARs at 1 (.4%). By countries, South Africa took the top of other countries at 51 (20%) repositories, while Cameroon was the least at 1 (0.3%). The African scholarly communication with the most visibility is Social Sciences at 223 while the least archived subject is Mathematics at 176. African scholarly communications made available on the global space are mostly generated by institutions of learning as the study shows that 243 (94%) OARs in Africa are institutional repositories.

Originality/value: The study exposed the paltry contribution of African repositories in ensuring the global visibility of African scholarly communication. It reveals the weakness of the African continent in exploring the potential of OARs in the wider dissemination of their scholarly communication. Africa has the second-largest population in the world, and ought to generate more scholarly communication in the global space. To this end, therefore, the study recommends among others that African institutions should commit to establishing and maintaining OARs if African scholarly communication will be visible in the global space.

Author Biographies

Okeoma Ezechukwu, University Library, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Dr. Okeoma Chinelo Ezechukwu is a distinguished librarian boasting extensive experience in both public and academic library settings. She earned a B.Ed in Library Science/English from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Ibadan, and a PhD in Library and Information Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She held the position of head of the eLibrary, and a cataloguer at Prof. Kenneth Dike State Central eLibrary (Anambra State Library Board), Awka, and currently serves as the Head of the Document Preservation Section and Head of the Institutional Repository at the University of Uyo Library. Alongside her administrative roles, Dr. Ezechukwu has made notable contributions to the field through the publication of several articles in both local and international journals. Additionally, she serves as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. Her area of interest is Digital Librarianship, Bibliometrics and citation analysis, and public library services. She is deeply passionate about integrating modern technologies into library and information services. Certified by the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), she is an active member of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) and its Information Technology Section. Dr Ezechukwu can be reached via email at okeomaezechukwu@uniuyo.edu.ng.

Egbe Adewole-Odeshi, University Library, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Dr. Egbe Adewole-Odeshi is a seasoned librarian with over a decade of professional practice. Her academic journey includes a BSc in Economics from Delta State University, Nigeria, a master's degree in Information Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. She has served as a Systems Librarian, and resource officer at the Centre for Learning Resources, Covenant University Ota, Nigeria. A certified Librarian with the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Dr Adewole-Odeshi currently serves as the Head of the E-Resources and Automation Section at the University of Uyo Library. Additionally, she shares her knowledge as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science, mentoring students at diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Dr Adewole-Odeshi is an active member of the Nigerian Library Association, Akwa Ibom State chapter. She has contributed extensively to both local and international journals. Her area of specialization includes; library e-resources, library automation, and digitization. She has skills in online cataloguing, the use of Turnitin plagiarism detection software, online journal indexing, and website administration among others. She can be contacted via egbeodeshi@uniuyo.edu.ng

Ufuoma Onobrakpor, University Library, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Dr. Ufuoma Dymphna Onobrakpor holds a first degree from Delta State University, Abraka, a Master of Information Management degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Library and Information Science from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. She is a certified Librarian with the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria. Dr. Onobrakpor is an academic Librarian at the University of Uyo Library and the Director of American Space: Uyo Window on America. She also lectures at the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Uyo. Dr. Onobrakpor is an active member of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) Akwa Ibom State chapter, the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) IT Section, and the National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (NALISE). She has attended several national and international conferences. She is widely published with articles in local and international peer-reviewed journals and has several chapter contributions to books. Her areas of specialisation include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), E-resources, Information Literacy, Library resource user education, and Information search and retrieval. Dr Onobrakpor can be reached at uonobrakpor@uniuyo.edu.ng

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Folia Toruniensia

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Published

2024-11-19

How to Cite

Ezechukwu, O., Adewole-Odeshi, E., & Onobrakpor, U. (2024). Exploring the global visibility of African scholarly communication: a comparative analysis of open access repositories in Africa. Folia Toruniensia, 24, 95–123. https://doi.org/10.12775/FT.2024.005

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Vol. 24 (2024)

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