The Chair of DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC), Professor Evans Osabuohien, has emphasised the importance of mentorship in shaping the careers of young scholars and professionals. He urged emerging academics to embrace mentorship as a strategic investment, noting that short-term sacrifices often lead to long-term professional success.
Professor Osabuohien made this assertion during a 2-day mentorship workshop organised by the Institute of Labour Economics (IZA) in Bonn, Germany, on 11th and 12th March 2025. His participation further solidified his reputation as a leading advocate for mentorship in academia, as he joined other distinguished experts in guiding participants through the workshop.
Speaking on the topic, “Relevance of Mentorship in Career Success: African Scholars Mentorship Network Framework,” Professor Osabuohien likened mentorship to the principle of seedtime and harvest, stressing that young scholars should be willing to endure short-term challenges to reap long-term benefits. He emphasised that mentorship should not be approached with a mindset of solely receiving benefits but rather as a collaborative process where mentees actively contribute to the relationship.
Key Insights on Effective Mentorship
Professor Osabuohien highlighted several critical elements for a successful mentorship experience, including time management, openness to opportunities, and self-discipline. He encouraged mentees to take on assignments diligently, as their relevance in the mentorship process is built on active contribution and a genuine quest for knowledge rather than mere recognition. “Do not close your own door while expecting open doors,” he advised, underscoring the importance of embracing new opportunities as they arise.
As the Coordinator of the African Scholars Mentorship Network (ASMN), the flagship training initiative of DIaDeRC, Professor Osabuohien stressed that mentees should strive to exceed expectations by consistently pursuing excellence in their tasks. He also cautioned against burning bridges in mentorship relationships, urging mentees to transition into new professional phases while maintaining strong connections with their mentors.
Addressing Mentorship Challenges
He acknowledged some of the common challenges in mentorship, such as mismatched expectations, time management issues, dependency versus independence, and communication breakdowns. To navigate these challenges, he recommended clear communication, setting priorities, structured engagement schedules, and the ability to transition amicably when necessary.
Additionally, he highlighted the key benefits of mentorship, including accelerated learning, expanded professional networks, increased confidence, and a stronger professional identity.
Mentor vs. Coach vs. Supervisor
Clarifying the distinctions among different professional guidance roles, Professor Osabuohien explained that: a coach focuses on performance improvement, the supervisor employs an authority-based approach to oversight and management, while a mentor provides long-term developmental guidance.
He concluded by reaffirming that mentorship is a transformative journey that, when approached with the right mindset, opens doors to greater professional fulfilment and success.
At His Mentee’s Viva in Witten
Using one stone to kill many birds, Prof Evans Osabuohien used the opportunity to attend the PhD viva of one of his mentees (Waidi Adebayo), who is also an ASMN Premium Member. The viva was held on 13th March 2025 at Witten/Herdecke University, where he served as his co-supervisor. According to him, he first met Waidi Adebayo in 2016 at a conference hosted by Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, when he was in the early stage of his Master’s programme. Given his enthusiasm and quest for knowledge, he advised him to move on to his doctoral research focusing on Cassava Value Chain Sub-Saharan Africa. So, he was able to bring practical experience to fuel his doctoral research, on one hand, research insights into practice. One of the participants at his viva (PhD Final Defence) exclaimed, “one thing that stood out for me is the immediate relevance of your PhD”. The strongest lesson for is that it is always refreshing being part of others’ success stories, which is one of the hallmarks of mentorship.
