Ultimate Guide to APA 7th and MLA 9th Referencing for Nigerian Final Year Projects
Learn how to reference correctly using APA 7th and MLA 9th for Nigerian final year projects. Includes in-text examples, reference list formats, works cited samples, and the exact style each Nigerian department uses.
Correct referencing is one of the most important parts of any final year project in Nigeria. Whether you are in a university or polytechnic, your department will require you to use either APA 7th Edition or MLA 9th Edition.
This guide explains both styles clearly and shows how Nigerian students can apply them without errors.
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1. APA vs MLA in Nigerian Universities: The Quick Difference
| Feature | APA 7th Edition | MLA 9th Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Used For | Social Sciences, Education, Management, Sciences | Literature, Languages, Arts, Humanities |
| In-text Format | (Author, Year) | (Author Page) |
| List Name | References | Works Cited |
| Focus | Date of publication | Author and page number |
| Authors | List up to 20 authors | Usually one to three |
| Title Use | Sentence case | Title case |
Simple rule for Nigerian projects:
- Social sciences and sciences use APA
- Arts and humanities use MLA
Always confirm your department's handbook first or guideline.
2. APA 7th Edition Referencing Guide (Nigerian Format)
APA uses the Author, Year system.
In-text citations look like:
- (Adeyemi, 2022)
- (Adeyemi, 2022, p. 15) for direct quotes
2.1 APA In-Text Citation Examples
Single author:
(Adeyemi, 2020)
Two authors:
(Bello and Okon, 2021)
Three or more authors:
(Johnson et al., 2023)
Narrative use:
Adeyemi (2020) explained that student habits influence performance.
2.2 APA Reference List Examples
Your reference list should have the heading References.
Entries are arranged alphabetically.
a. Book (APA 7th)
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Subtitle in sentence case. Publisher.
Example:
Baxter, B. (2007). Gender equality in schools and colleges. Ballière Tindall.
b. Journal Article (APA 7th)
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., and Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI or URL.
Example:
Ahmed, L. S., Bello, A. A., Musa, G. T., Ojo, K. N., Udo, J. E., Okeke, C. M., and Obi, A. O. (2020). Barriers to healthy dietary behavior among Nigerian university students. Nigerian Journal of Nutrition, 18(2), 89 to 104. https://doi.org/10.3345/njn.2020.01804
c. Website (APA 7th)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL.
Example:
Daniel, R. (2023, August 14). Trends in digital learning among African students. EduTech Africa. https://edutechafrica.org/trends
Key APA 7th Rules for Nigerian Projects
- List up to 20 authors before using et al.
- Use sentence case for titles
- Include DOIs for Nigerian journals where available
- Double spacing and hanging indents are required
3. MLA 9th Edition Referencing Guide (Nigerian Format)
MLA uses the Author Page system.
In-text citations look like:
- (Taylor 23)
- (Brown and Mendis par. 7) for websites with no page
3.1 MLA In-text Citation Examples
Single author:
(Salami 45)
Two authors:
(Ola and Benson 19)
No author:
("Youth Employment Report" 12)
3.2 MLA Works Cited Examples
Your list should be titled Works Cited.
a. Book (MLA 9th)
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example:
Okoro, Emeka. African Literature in Transition. Sunrise Press, 2018.
b. Journal Article (MLA 9th)
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. X, no. Y, Year, pp. Z to Z.
Example:
Henry, Ladi. "Symbolism in Nigerian Drama." Journal of African Arts, vol. 12, no. 3, 2021, pp. 77 to 91.
c. Website (MLA 9th)
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Page." Website Name, Publisher (if different), Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
Ojo, Mariam. "Modern Poetry in Nigeria." Nigerian Writers Hub, 12 May 2023, https://writershub.org/poetry
Key MLA 9th Rules for Nigerian Projects
- Focus on author and page number
- Use title case
- Italicize containers such as journals or websites
- Most humanities departments require this style
- URLs do not need “https” if your supervisor prefers simplified format
4. APA vs MLA: Which Should Nigerian Students Use?
| Course/Department | Recommended Style |
|---|---|
| Sociology | APA 7 |
| Psychology | APA 7 |
| Business Admin | APA 7 |
| Education | APA 7 |
| Computer Science | APA 7 |
| Mass Communication | APA 7 in some schools, MLA in others |
| English and Literary Studies | MLA 9 |
| Theatre Arts | MLA 9 |
| History | MLA 9 |
Always verify with your supervisor or departmental handbook.
5. Common Referencing Mistakes Nigerian Students Make
- Mixing APA and MLA in the same project
- Forgetting hanging indents
- Using article titles in in-text citations
- Adding references that do not appear in the body
- Copying references from Google without checking accuracy
- Using MLA in a department that demands APA and losing marks
6. Quick Reference Tables for Students
APA In-Text Cheat Sheet
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single author | (Author, Year) | (Ojo, 2021) |
| Direct quote | (Author, Year, p. X) | (Ojo, 2021, p. 16) |
| Three plus authors | (Author et al., Year) | (Musa et al., 2020) |
MLA In-Text Cheat Sheet
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single author | (Author Page) | (Henry 45) |
| Direct quote | (Author, par. X) | (Adeola, par. 7) |
| Three plus authors | (Author and Author Page) | (Ola and Benson 10) |
7. When to Use Each Style in a Nigerian Project
Use APA 7th when your research is based on:
- experiments
- surveys
- data analysis
- current studies
Use MLA 9th when your research is based on:
- novels
- poetry
- drama
- rhetoric
- essays
- close reading
FAQs
1. Does every Nigerian university use APA 7th?
No. Some departments still use APA 6th or MLA 8th. Always confirm.
2. Can I mix APA and MLA in one project?
No. Use one style only.
3. Does MLA require a date for websites?
Yes, if available.
4. How many authors can APA list before et al.?
Up to 20.
5. Is referencing compulsory in Nigerian projects?
Yes. Missing references can lead to plagiarism issues.
Wrap Up
Correct referencing helps you avoid plagiarism and gives your project a professional academic standard. Whether your department uses APA 7th or MLA 9th, mastering the basic structure will make your writing accurate and credible.
