Nigerian Universities, Industries Without Collaborative R & D Culture: Who is with me?

Credit: Infoprations Analysis, 2018

Several months ago, I visited the University of Ibadan in Nigeria to deliver training to 30 professors, directors and HODs on models of bridging the gaps between research and industry. As we drove down the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (over 100Km), I noticed at least 10 new universities on the way.

However, I only knew them by their fancy exotic names, but most importantly, the monster sizes of their gates. In some cases, there were no buildings in place but they had gates. Seriously, what is it about African Universities and the size of their gates? It is almost as if the gates say 'we are closed, don't come near' little wonder the gap between academia and industry is huge and isn't that why our amazing students graduate and are unemployable?

I set up my consulting firm, Envirofly Consulting UK, some seven years ago, but decided to have my office within the Environment Research Centre of Lancaster University in a model called 'Co-location'. I have derived incredible benefits that I am on a mission to bridge the gaps between research and industry in Africa for employability, productivity and sustainability. Who is with me? Dr. Akanimo Odon asked.

Dr Odon’s feelings reinforce existing factors contributing to frail research and development initiative between universities and industries. According to the UNESCO, Nigeria’s research and development spending using a share of Gross Domestic Product is 0.2% compared to South Africa, Egypt and Ghana with 0.7%, 0.6% and 0.4% respectively. The low spending has contributed and still being the main factor for conducting studies that have little or no connection with the problems in the Nigerian society. For instance, previous analysis shows that in 2017, Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone failed to be at par with the knowledge economy global trends. The global rankings for the 10 countries in the quality of scientific research institutions connected with the 2017’s knowledge economy global trends negatively. A 16.10% reduction was found. The hiding of the outcomes of relevant studies in journals is also prevalent among professors and doctoral students.

Meanwhile, Dr Odon’s question generated much needed reactions from the Nigerian professionals. They were furious over the absence of research and development collaboration, which has the propensity of solving numerous problems in the country. Some of the professionals decried the construction of big gate and other infrastructure at the expense of having adequate R and D facilities and personnel in the universities.

Lack of strategic partnership between the universities and industries was discussed vehemently. Lack of productive research from the universities to the industries was equally debated. “Most undergraduate projects are plagiarised, contributing little or nothing to knowledge. Most projects or dissertations do not solve current industry problems. Little wonder the mismatch between graduates produced and the needs of world of work, one of the professionals pointed out.