Editing in Nigeria — An Informal Study

Abstract

The author, a Briton, presents an informal case-study of two years as Publications Secretary at a Nigerian agricultural research institute. The difficulties and frustrations he faced are described. Staff, supply, and equipment problems are discussed. He suggests that such problems may be general to black Africa and are likely to be faced by technical communicators moving for the first time to this region and to some other parts of the Third World. He concludes that such posts demand more of their incumbents in terms of personality than in terms of qualifications. He questions whether potential Third World communicators are properly informed about or prepared for their posts, and criticizes the tendency of employers, particularly international organizations, to require applicants for communications posts to hold exalted formal qualifications.