Building a Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem in Universities for Ideation and Entrepreneurial Competence: The University of Lagos Experience

Abstract

What is new? Universities in the global south particularly in sub-Saharan African countries have not impacted greatly on their host communities as research efforts in these universities are not linked to innovation addressing societal challenges. What was the approach? The University of Lagos (UNILAG), recognizing that a robust innovation ecosystem is central to building capacity in the innovation space for unleashing the creative potentials of both faculty and students beyond traditional teaching and research, activated three units to drive innovation-related activities in the university. This article presents critical discussions on the University of Lagos’s experience in driving innovation through novel institutional frameworks facilitated by the Research Management Office, the Innovation & Technology Management Office, and the Entrepreneurship & Skills Development Centre. The article also presents challenges encountered in the process and strategies employed to successfully navigate through the challenges, lessons learned, successes recorded in patents and intellectual property management, as well as future directions for greater impact. What is the academic impact? The paper makes recommendations for sustainability and for the implementation of efficient strategies in newly established units seeking to strategically drive innovation-related activities. What is the wider impact? Practical implications of the UNILAG’s experience for Research and management practitioners in developing countries are articulated.