Joseph James Mbavai (PhD)

Acting Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance

Professional Profile

Dr. Joseph James Mbavai (PhD) is an experienced adult education, community development, research and social impact assessment specialist with over fifteen (15) years in development research and innovation diffusion.

Current Position

Acting Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance
Njala University, Sierra Leone

Academic Qualifications

Doctoral Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - 2018
Field: Adult Education with specialization in Community Development
Institution: Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

Master's Degree

Master of Education (M.Ed.) - 2014
Field: Community Development
Institution: Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - 2009
Field: Adult Education / Public Administration
Institution: University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Professional Teaching Qualification

Higher Teachers Certificate (Secondary) - 2004
Field: Social Studies with specialization in Government
Institution: Bo Teachers College (Now Njala University, Bo Campus), Sierra Leone

Areas of Expertise

Adult Education - Comprehensive understanding of adult learning principles and methodologies
Community Development - Specialized expertise in community-based development approaches
Research and Innovation - Extensive experience in development research and innovation diffusion
Social Impact Assessment - Professional expertise in evaluating social development outcomes
Academic Quality Assurance - Leadership in maintaining educational standards and academic excellence

Professional Experience

With over 15 years of dedicated experience in development research and innovation diffusion, Dr. Mbavai has established himself as a leading expert in adult education and community development across West Africa, with particular focus on Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Contact Info

+23279622513

Education

Recent Publications

Libbie, J. K. L., Challay, S., Mbavai, J. J., & Senessie, S. M. B. (2025). Impact of the use of the Lesson Plan Manual on the Academic Performance of JSS Pupils in Language Arts in Southern Sierra Leone. Sumerianz Journal of Education, Linguistics and Literature, 8(1), 11-20.

Mahmud, A., & Mbavai, J. J. (2023). Quality Assurance Activities in Adult and Non-Formal Education Programme in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research.

Mbavai, J. J., Kamara, S. M., Kamara, A. Y., & Kamara, A. (2023). Determinants of Adoption of Short Season Soybean Varieties in the Sudan Savannas of Northern Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 11(11), 200-207. ISSN: 2141-2170.

Note: Correction needed for this entry.

Kamara, A. Y., Oyinbo, O., Manda, J., Kamara, A., Idowu, E. O., & Mbavai, J. J. (2023). Beyond average: are the yield and income impacts of adopting drought-tolerant maize varieties heterogeneous? Climate and Development, 1-10.

Research Areas

Primary Research Focus: Educational methodology, agricultural development, quality assurance in education, and rural development strategies across West Africa.

Key Contributions

Educational Innovation: Research on lesson plan implementation and its impact on academic performance in Sierra Leone
Agricultural Extension: Studies on adoption patterns of improved crop varieties in Nigeria's Sudan Savanna
Quality Assurance: Evaluation of non-formal education programs and their effectiveness
Climate Adaptation: Analysis of drought-tolerant crop varieties and their socioeconomic impacts

Publication Statistics

Recent Publications: 4 papers published in 2023-2025

Research Collaboration: Multi-institutional partnerships across Nigeria and Sierra Leone

Journal Coverage: Education, agriculture, and social science publications

Team