Manuscript Preparation
Authors should prepare their manuscripts according to the following guidelines to ensure a smooth review and publication process.
General Requirements
- Manuscripts must be original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere
- All authors must have significantly contributed to the research
- Manuscripts should be written in clear, academic English
- Include a cover letter with your submission
- Remove all author identifiers for double-blind review
Manuscript Structure
Manuscripts should follow this structure:
- Title Page: Title, author names, affiliations, ORCID, contact information (separate file for blind review)
- Abstract: 250-300 words summarizing research questions, methodology, findings, and significance
- Keywords: 3-6 keywords for indexing
- Introduction: Background, research problem, objectives
- Methodology: Research design, methods, data collection
- Results/Findings: Presentation of research findings
- Discussion: Interpretation of findings, comparison with existing literature
- Conclusion: Summary, implications, limitations, future research
- References: Complete list following APA 7th edition
Note: For double-blind review, please remove all author-identifying information from the manuscript file. Include author details only in the separate title page file.
Submission Process
Step-by-Step Guide
- Register as an author on our website
- Prepare your manuscript according to guidelines
- Log in to your author dashboard
- Click "Submit Manuscript" and complete the submission form
- Upload manuscript file and cover letter
- Submit and confirm submission
- Track submission status in your dashboard
Submission Timeline: Initial editorial screening within 3-5 days. Peer review takes 4-6 weeks. Final decision within 2-3 weeks of review completion.
Peer Review Process
Hakmah Theological Journal uses a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research.
Review Stages
- Initial Screening: Editor checks for basic requirements and scope fit
- Reviewer Assignment: At least 2 expert reviewers are assigned
- Peer Review: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript and provide recommendations
- Editorial Decision: Editor makes final decision based on reviews
- Revision: Authors revise and resubmit if required
- Final Decision: Acceptance or rejection
- Publication: Copyediting, typesetting, and online publication
Review Criteria
Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:
- Originality and significance of contribution
- Methodological rigor and soundness
- Theological accuracy and scholarly depth
- Clarity and organization of presentation
- Relevance to the journal's scope
- Ethical compliance
Possible Decisions
- Accept: Manuscript accepted as is
- Minor Revision: Small changes required
- Major Revision: Substantial changes required, second review round
- Reject: Manuscript not suitable for publication
Ethical Guidelines
The journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for scholarly publishing.
Author Responsibilities
- Ensure originality and avoid plagiarism
- Disclose conflicts of interest
- Obtain ethics approval for human/animal research
- Acknowledge all contributors and funding sources
- Correct errors promptly if discovered
Prohibited Practices
- Plagiarism in any form
- Duplicate or simultaneous submissions
- Data fabrication or falsification
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest
- Ghostwriting or guest authorship
Plagiarism Check: All submissions are screened for plagiarism using specialized software. Similarity should be below 15% (excluding references).
Copyright & Licensing
Hakmah Theological Journal is an open-access journal committed to the free dissemination of scholarly knowledge.
Creative Commons License
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.
This license allows others to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
- Attribution: You must give appropriate credit to the original author(s)
- NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes
Author Rights
- Authors retain copyright of their work
- Authors can share their work on institutional repositories
- Authors can use their work in future publications
- No fees for authors (diamond open access)
Publication Charges
Hakmah Theological Journal is committed to providing equitable access to publication without financial barriers.
No Publication Fees! There are no article processing charges (APCs) or submission fees. The journal is funded by Hakmah Theological College Kaltungo.
What We Cover
- Editorial processing and peer review management
- Copyediting and proofreading
- Typesetting and layout design
- DOI registration
- Online hosting and archiving
- Long-term digital preservation
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the review process take?
The entire process from submission to decision typically takes 8-10 weeks, depending on reviewer availability and required revisions.
Can I submit to multiple journals?
No. Simultaneous submissions are not allowed. Your manuscript must not be under consideration elsewhere during the review process.
Do you accept student papers?
Yes. We welcome submissions from graduate students and early-career researchers, provided the work makes an original scholarly contribution.
Will I receive proofs before publication?
Yes. Once accepted, authors will receive proofs for final review before online publication.
How can I become a reviewer?
Contact the editorial office with your areas of expertise and CV. We welcome qualified scholars to join our reviewer pool.
Need Help?
If you have questions about the submission process or need clarification on any guideline, please contact the editorial office:
Email: editor@hakmah.edu.ng
Phone: +234 123 456 7890
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (WAT)
Contact Us