Authors :
Popoola Olusegun Victor; Oyetunde Christian Oyedeji; Adebayo Adeyinka Victor; Olasunkanmi Ayodeji James
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 5 - May
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/59k2vtdb
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/3t6r9xmy
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2157
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Nigeria's tertiary institutions' Research and
Development (R&D) landscape is marked by a complex
interplay of potential, challenges, and the urgent need
for strategic reform. This paper delves into the
multifaceted realm of R&D in Nigerian higher
education, identifying key issues such as underfunding,
inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of collaborative
endeavours between academia and industry. Despite the
recognised potential for these institutions to be
powerhouses of innovation and socio-economic
development, they face significant hurdles.
Underfunding severely limits the scope and scale of
research projects, while infrastructural deficits hinder
the quality and efficiency of research outcomes.
Additionally, the siloed nature of academia from
industry in Nigeria stifles the translation of research
findings into practical, marketable solutions that could
benefit the broader economy. The paper further explores
the consequences of these challenges, including
diminished academic quality, reduced international
competitiveness, and a lag in the contribution of
Nigerian tertiary institutions to global knowledge
production. Through a comprehensive review of existing
literature and analysis of current R&D policies, the
study presents a series of strategic recommendations to
revitalise R&D in Nigeria's tertiary institutions. These
include increasing government and private sector
funding, enhancing research infrastructure, promoting
interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects,
and fostering stronger partnerships between universities
and industries. The paper argues that implementing
these recommendations is crucial for transforming
Nigerian tertiary institutions into catalyst innovation,
economic diversification, and sustainable development
catalysts study contributes to the ongoing discourse on
higher education reform in Nigeria by offering a detailed
examination of the R&D ecosystem and proposing a
forward-looking framework for enhancing research
capacity and impact. By addressing the systemic barriers
to effective R&D, Nigeria’s tertiary institutions can play
a pivotal role in achieving the nation’s development
objectives and positioning itself as a leader in the global
knowledge economy.
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Nigeria's tertiary institutions' Research and
Development (R&D) landscape is marked by a complex
interplay of potential, challenges, and the urgent need
for strategic reform. This paper delves into the
multifaceted realm of R&D in Nigerian higher
education, identifying key issues such as underfunding,
inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of collaborative
endeavours between academia and industry. Despite the
recognised potential for these institutions to be
powerhouses of innovation and socio-economic
development, they face significant hurdles.
Underfunding severely limits the scope and scale of
research projects, while infrastructural deficits hinder
the quality and efficiency of research outcomes.
Additionally, the siloed nature of academia from
industry in Nigeria stifles the translation of research
findings into practical, marketable solutions that could
benefit the broader economy. The paper further explores
the consequences of these challenges, including
diminished academic quality, reduced international
competitiveness, and a lag in the contribution of
Nigerian tertiary institutions to global knowledge
production. Through a comprehensive review of existing
literature and analysis of current R&D policies, the
study presents a series of strategic recommendations to
revitalise R&D in Nigeria's tertiary institutions. These
include increasing government and private sector
funding, enhancing research infrastructure, promoting
interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects,
and fostering stronger partnerships between universities
and industries. The paper argues that implementing
these recommendations is crucial for transforming
Nigerian tertiary institutions into catalyst innovation,
economic diversification, and sustainable development
catalysts study contributes to the ongoing discourse on
higher education reform in Nigeria by offering a detailed
examination of the R&D ecosystem and proposing a
forward-looking framework for enhancing research
capacity and impact. By addressing the systemic barriers
to effective R&D, Nigeria’s tertiary institutions can play
a pivotal role in achieving the nation’s development
objectives and positioning itself as a leader in the global
knowledge economy.