Fisheries training in Nigeria's tertiary institutions - curriculum, staffing, equipment and other facilities: a critique of NUC’S minimum benchmark academic standards (MBAS) document

The paper is a review of the curriculum, staffing, equipment, field and laboratory requirements prescribed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for training of Fisheries graduates. This is made as these are guidelines against which Fisheries programmes, now being proliferated in many Nigerian tertiary institutions, can be evaluated for possible accreditation. The critique shows that some courses are highly under-weighted e.g. “Aquatic Flora and fauna” as a 2 credit unit. There is a high degree of overlap between courses. Some are not clearly and sharply delineated, defined or described. Staff needs are not defined or described. Staff needs are not defined in terms of core course areas of specialization. Limnology & Oceanography have their descriptions restricted to physico ? chemical features and not viewed in the desired comparative perspective. Suggestions are made on a wider listing of equipment, field laboratory, and library need to sharpen the NUC guideline. A review committee is recommended.