Factors challenging research and innovation in tertiary education in Nigeria

Abstract

Research and innovation in tertiary education is a key driver of sustainable economic development of any nation. A global reflection from the perspective of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) clearly shows that global promotion of research and innovation in education is a pivot for knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes to combat challenges against ESD. Despite these global reflections, Nigeria has continued to be among the third world or underdeveloped countries. Moreover, as research and innovation become more complex globally, Nigerian tertiary education is further constrained by poor sponsorship, out-dated Intellectual Property (IP) policies, and non-sustainable ICT innovations despite her huge human resources and other natural endowments. This study highlights the gaps created by these challenging factors and strategies to close them. A narrative review of prior research that focused on the theoretical underpinnings of vast works of literature that revealed significant information on challenges facing research and innovation in tertiary education in Nigeria and strategies to close these gaps was adopted. Peer-reviewed articles within the last five years from electronic databases, using some keywords such as “research”, “innovation”, “tertiary education”, etc, were also extracted. Results show that research and innovation are crippled by out-dated, non-sustainable or virtually non-existent policies, and poor educational system. Findings from this study may encourage research and innovation in our tertiary education that may positively bring about diversified economy, positive social change, and economic development in Nigerian.