Managing the Publication of Hausa Academic Journals and Scholarly Literature in Nigeria

The vitality of Hausa as an academic language depends substantially on the existence of functioning scholarly publication infrastructure that enables original Hausa-language research and creative writing to reach academic audiences within and beyond Nigeria. This study examines the management challenges and strategies associated with publishing Hausa academic journals and scholarly literature in Nigeria, drawing on the experience of editors and publishers engaged in this specialised field. A professional publishing management research design was employed, conducting in-depth interviews with 14 editors, academic publishers, and journal managers at institutions including Bayero University Kano, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, and Gaskiya Corporation Zaria, which have histories of Hausa academic publishing. Document review of publishing workflows, financial sustainability models, and distribution systems supplemented the interview data. Findings reveal persistent challenges including limited peer reviewer pools for Hausa-language manuscripts, inadequate indexing of Hausa academic journals in major bibliographic databases, restricted print distribution networks, and financial dependence on university subvention that creates vulnerability to institutional budget changes. Digital publishing is emerging as a cost-saving option but digital access infrastructure remains limited for many target readers. Recommendations address development of a collaborative Hausa academic publishing consortium, investment in digital open access publishing infrastructure, international indexing applications for established Hausa journals, and creation of a Hausa academic writing mentorship programme to develop the next generation of Hausa scholarly authors. Keywords: Hausa academic publishing, Journal management, Scholarly literature, Nigeria, Language vitality.