Abstract
This study considers the fact that, across the globe, and especially in Africa, the number of candidates enrolling for PhDs have increased, which means that there should be a corresponding boost in the number of quality supervisors to match this increment for doctoral candidates to achieve doctorateness. The study organizes supervisor tasks and responsibilities, according to the maturity of the followers (PhD candidates), using Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership paradigm.Thirty experienced doctoral supervisors at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,were interviewedto elicit their responses regarding the duties and obligations of supervisors and postgraduate candidates, and what they understood by doctorateness.Based on the results and the reviewed scholarships, the study recommended thatthe supervisory styles of telling, selling, participation, and delegation must be followed sequentially. The study concluded that 'the how is important; it is the how that determines the what', because quality supervision is an antidote to achievedoctorateness.