Author Guidelines
1. Manuscript Format
Papers must be assembled in this order: Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results,
Discussion, Conclusion, Ethical Clearance, Acknowledgements, Sources of Funding, Conflict of
Interest, Authors contributions, References.
Introduction: This should be concise and state the background and clear objective of the paper.
Methods: This should be clear enough for another researcher to be able to replicate the study.
Results: The result should be presented in logical sequence in the text, tables, figures, charts or
other illustrations. Do not repeat in the text all the data in the tables and illustrations. Emphasise
or summarise only important observations.
Discussion: This should cover pertinent issues from the introduction and mainly the results.
Conclusion: As much as is possible, a relevant conclusion from the results should be stated.
2. Length of Manuscripts
Full-length articles should not exceed 5,000 words and should not be less than 3,500 words
including the title page, abstract and references. An article should not exceed 10 authors and not
more than six tables or figures. References should not exceed 25 and should not be less than 10.
Except in rare circumstances, references and literature citations should not be above 10 years.
3. Formatting
Manuscripts should be written in British (UK) English and typed in a single line spacing, Times
New Roman, 12-point font including references, figures and tables with 2.5cm margins from
each edge on one side of a white A4 paper. All manuscript pages including the title page must be
numbered. All illustrations, figures, and tables should be placed within the text at the appropriate
points in numerical order, rather than at the end.
Title Page
This should contain the following information:
o Title of the paper which should be concise, and informative, should not exceeding 25 words
and should not contain abbreviations.
o The title page should also include names, affiliations and addresses of all the authors and
complete contact information of the corresponding author including telephone number and e-
mail address. We also require the email addresses of all authors. On acceptance, the list of
authors will not change.
o Source(s) of funding including grants, and equipment (where applicable).
o Word count for paper text (excluding its abstract and references) and a separate word count
for the abstract is required.
o Conflict of interest declaration
o Authors’ contributions (a short note stating specific areas handled by each of the co-author. It
should also affirm that all the authors have read and approved the manuscript for publication,
and they have collectively conferred the rights to the corresponding author to make necessary
changes required by editorial team of the journal, do the rest of correspondence and act as the
guarantor for the manuscript on their behalf.
4. Abstract
The abstract must not exceed 200 words and should accurately reflect the content of the article,
emphasising its important findings and limitations and must be structured as follows:
Background, Objective, Method, Result, Conclusion, Unique Contribution, and Key
Recommendation.
5. Keywords: The abstract must be accompanied by four to five keywords preferably terms not
used in the title.
6. Abbreviations: All abbreviations must be spelt out when initially used, and thereafter
consistently used. Abbreviations should not be used in the title or abstract.
7. Figures, Tables and illustrations
Tables should be self-explanatory and should not duplicate textual materials. They should be of
reproducible quality, include comprehensive captions and not duplicate of materials presented in
the text. All illustrations (tables and figures) must be cited consecutively in the text. Avoid
internal vertical or horizontal lines in tables. They should be numbered in Roman numeral,
consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text and supply a brief of each text. Explain
in footnotes all non-standard abbreviations that are used in each table. Any figures should be
professionally designed and submitted as original copies, or obtain permission for all fully
borrowed, adapted and modified tables and provide a credit line in the footnote. Illustrations
should be sharp and clear, preferably in JPEG format. Authors will be requested to pay for
coloured illustration in the case of journal hard copy.
8. Authorship
Authorship of an article should be based on the following:
1. Substantial contribution to the conceptualisation, design, data collection, analysis and
interpretation.
2. Drafting and/or critical revision of the article for important intellectual contents.
3. Approval of the final version to be published.
4. Accountability for all aspects of the work, ensuring that all issues related to the accuracy and
integrity of the article are properly addressed.
9. Conflict of Interest
Authors are required to disclose all financial and personal connections that may constitute a
conflict of interest. More information can be obtained from the Council of Science Editors’
(CSE) white paper on promoting integrity in scientific journal publications, 2012 update at
www.councilscienceditors.org.
10. Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements of general support, grants, technical assistance should be indicated. Authors
are responsible for obtaining the consent of those acknowledged.
References: (APA Style 7th Edition)
11. Submission Preparation Checklist
As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission’s
compliance with all of the following items, as submissions may be returned to authors who do
not adhere to these guidelines.
i. The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for
consideration.
ii. The submission file is in Microsoft Word file format.
iii. Complete names, addresses, highest degrees, institutions, title, telephone number, and e-mail
for each author with that of the corresponding author clearly specified.
iv. Conflict of interest disclosure.
v. Manuscript does not exceed 5,000 words and not less than 3,500 words, including the title
page, abstract and references.
vi. Manuscript does not exceed 10 authors and not more than six tables or figures.
vii. References and literature citations do not exceed 25 and not less than 10, and they are not
above 10 years except in rare situations.
viii. Where available, URLs for references have been provided.
ix. Manuscript is written in British (UK) English and typed in a single line spacing, Times New
Roman, 12-point font including references, figures and tables with 2.5cm margins from each
edge on one side of a white A4 paper, and manuscript pages including the title page are
numbered.
x. The text employs italics where necessary, rather than underlining (except with URL
addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the
appropriate points, rather than at the end.
xi. The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements of the Journal seen on this
page.
12. Declarations
All manuscripts must contain the following sections (compulsory):
o Ethical clearance
o Acknowledgements
o Sources of funding
o Conflict of interest
o Authors’ Contributions
o Availability of data and materials
13. How to Submit
Manuscript should be submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment via electronic mail to: The
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR) through
editorijssar@gmail.com. Authors can also register as users and follow the instructions to submit
their manuscripts. A manuscript Identification (ID) number shall be sent to the corresponding
author upon receipt of the manuscript. Submitted manuscript must be an original contribution not
previously published (except as an abstract in a conference), must not be under consideration for
publication elsewhere, and, if accepted for publication in the IJSSAR, must not be published
elsewhere in a similar form, in any language unless with the written permission of the Editor-in-
Chief and Publishers of IJSSAR. Each person listed as an author is expected to have participated
in the study to a significant extent and should indicate clearly his/her role in the manuscript and
agrees with submission of the paper for publication.
14. Abridged License Agreement between Authors and IJSSAR
I submitted my manuscript to International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research
(IJSSAR) on the ground that I am willingly to affirm that I am authorised by my co-authors to
enter into these agreements. I therefore, guarantee, on behalf of self and co-authors:
o That the paper is original, and has not been published in any other peer-reviewed journal; nor
is it under consideration by other journal (s). It does not infringe existing copyright or any
other person's rights
o That we are/I am the sole author(s) of the paper and with authority to enter into this
agreement. My granting rights to International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research
(IJSSAR) is not in breach of any other obligation
o That the paper contains nothing unlawful, or libelous, nor anything that would constitute a
breach of contract, confidence or commitment given to secrecy, if published
o That I/we have taken care to ensure the integrity of the article.
15. Copyright Notice
Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights of all accepted manuscripts without
restrictions.
16. Privacy Statement
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated
purposes of this journal and will not be made available
