Publish or Perish :

Abstract

The ‘publish or perish’ mantra is a global phenomenon that has been extensively documented and scrutinized in western literature; however, too little has been done in the African context. Using a systemic review, this study sought to identify the constraints facing academics in undertaking research and publication in the African context, and to analyze the ramifications of the ‘publish or perish’ phenomena on academics in African institutions of higher learning. The researchers carried out a Google Scholar search using the PRISMA model as criteria for selection. The paper reviewed original articles, conference papers, articles published in English, and articles published between 2012 to 2022. Eleven articles were ultimately reviewed as a result of the extraction characteristics. The study concludes that while significant challenges face publication in the African context, individual motivation, collaboration among academics, favorable institutional environment, and supportive government policy could be leveraged to strengthen the dissemination of innovative ideas for socioeconomic development through publications.