In various fora over the years, we have raised the alarm on the Need for transformation in Nigerian Higher Education. So, the launch of the Diaspora BRIDGE platform by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMOE) next week, precisely on Monday, July 28, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s higher education landscape. By connecting Nigerian academics and professionals in the diaspora with local universities and research institutions, this initiative promises to address significant gaps in research output, academic collaboration, and institutional capacity building. It is an innovative step toward tapping into the vast expertise of Nigerians abroad, aiming to foster an intellectual and professional exchange that could propel national development across various sectors.
However, while the Diaspora BRIDGE is a laudable initiative, it should be part of a broader strategy to elevate Nigeria’s educational institutions as key players in national development, research, and employment creation. For Nigeria’s universities to truly contribute to the country’s economic growth, they must evolve into hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving. The question, therefore, is how Nigeria can use the momentum generated by Diaspora BRIDGE to transform its universities and enhance their research output, contributing to the creation of employment opportunities that align with the needs of the 21st century.
In this article, we will examine the potential benefits of engaging the Nigerian diaspora in research, explore the current state of research in Nigerian universities, and suggest actionable strategies that can enhance research output and contribute to national employment. Additionally, we will look at how universities across the globe are contributing to their countries’ development through innovation and the commercialization of research.
1. The Role of Diaspora BRIDGE in Strengthening Nigeria’s Research Capacity
The primary goal of the Diaspora BRIDGE platform is to bridge the gap between Nigerian universities and the large pool of Nigerian academics and professionals living abroad. According to a 2019 World Bank report, Nigeria has one of the largest diaspora populations globally, with millions of highly educated professionals contributing significantly to their host countries’ economies. Leveraging this resource by connecting them with local universities can provide immense benefits in terms of research output, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
By facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the diaspora, the platform can help Nigerian universities address critical gaps in research areas such as science, technology, medicine, and the humanities. This would not only bolster the quality of research but also foster collaborative projects that align with national development goals. Moreover, the platform’s integration with tools for virtual collaboration, project tracking, and academic matching will streamline partnerships and ensure that collaborations are purposeful and measurable.
However, for the Diaspora BRIDGE to achieve its intended outcomes, it must be more than just a digital tool. It should be an ecosystem that encourages long-term engagement, with clear pathways for collaboration, funding, and the application of research outcomes. This will require a concerted effort from government bodies, universities, and the private sector to build a robust infrastructure that supports research commercialization, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship.
2. Enhancing Research Output: The Current State of Research in Nigerian Universities
While the launch of the Diaspora BRIDGE platform is a promising step forward, it is important to acknowledge that Nigerian universities face several challenges that hinder their ability to produce impactful research. According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigerian universities produce thousands of graduates annually, yet the research output remains disproportionately low compared to international standards. Several factors contribute to this issue, including:
-
- Limited Funding for Research: Despite the government’s efforts, funding for research in Nigerian universities remains inadequate. Many research projects are underfunded or lack the necessary resources for completion, which affects their quality and impact. Unlike institutions in developed countries where research is often funded by both the government and private sector, Nigerian universities struggle to secure sustainable funding streams for academic inquiry.
- Lack of Infrastructure and Facilities: Nigerian universities often lack the state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, and research centres required for cutting-edge research. This shortage hampers the ability of researchers to conduct high-quality studies that can drive innovation.
- Brain Drain: While Nigeria has a large diaspora population, the country’s universities have long struggled to retain top talent. The outflow of highly educated academics to better-paying and more research-oriented environments abroad has resulted in a depletion of intellectual resources within the country.
Despite these challenges, there are emerging signs of change. Several Nigerian universities are making strides in research excellence, particularly in areas like agriculture, renewable energy, and health. The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) have partnered with international institutions to carry out collaborative research aimed at solving pressing national problems, such as food security and sustainable development. These collaborations, however, remain limited in scale and scope.
The question remains: how can the government and universities enhance research output and integrate it into the fabric of national development? The answer lies in leveraging the diaspora, creating better funding models, and fostering an innovation ecosystem that supports applied research and its commercialization.
3. Expanding the Scope of Research: Lessons from Global Universities
Globally, universities have evolved into centres of innovation and research that contribute significantly to national development. For instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States has long been at the forefront of bridging the gap between academia and industry. MIT’s research initiatives are not only academic but also entrepreneurial, with numerous successful startups emerging from its research centres. The collaboration between universities and the private sector has been crucial in transforming research into tangible products and services that create jobs and drive economic growth.
Similarly, the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom has created a robust framework for research commercialization, with numerous research programs aimed at developing practical solutions to real-world problems. The university’s commercialization arms, such as the Cambridge Enterprise, support startups and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology from the academic world to the marketplace. This model has allowed the university to become a significant contributor to the U.K. economy, creating thousands of jobs in the process.
In Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa has made strides in promoting innovation through its research-driven approach. The university has established several research partnerships with local businesses and international research organizations to address pressing national issues, such as renewable energy and healthcare. UCT’s model emphasizes collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the application of research to solve real-world challenges.
These examples demonstrate that universities can play a transformative role in national development by focusing on research that is directly applicable to economic and societal needs. For Nigeria, these models offer valuable lessons on how universities can contribute to job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
4. Strategies to Enhance Research and Employment Creation in Nigeria
To ensure that Nigerian universities become drivers of research and employment, several strategic actions are necessary:
-
-
- Increase Investment in Research and Development (R&D): The Nigerian government must prioritize funding for research, particularly in key areas such as agriculture, renewable energy, technology, and healthcare. This requires creating sustainable funding models that involve public-private partnerships, international collaboration, and government-backed research grants.
- Encourage Collaboration with the Private Sector: Nigerian universities should build stronger links with the private sector to foster innovation and the commercialization of research. By working closely with industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, universities can create research that directly addresses national economic challenges.
- Foster an Innovation Ecosystem: Universities must become hubs for entrepreneurship, where students, faculty, and alumni can collaborate to turn research into business ventures. This could involve establishing incubation centres, offering entrepreneurship programs, and providing seed funding for startups.
- Focus on Industry-Relevant Research: Universities should prioritize research that aligns with the country’s development priorities, such as improving food security, advancing renewable energy technologies, and addressing healthcare challenges. By focusing on these areas, universities can contribute directly to national development while creating job opportunities in emerging industries.
- Enhance Research Capacity through the Diaspora BRIDGE Platform: While the Diaspora BRIDGE platform is a significant step in connecting Nigerian academics with their counterparts abroad, it should be expanded to include collaboration on large-scale research projects that involve both Nigerian and diaspora researchers. This will help bring diverse perspectives and expertise to bear on the country’s most pressing challenges.
-
Conclusion
This initiative is a call to embrace a vision for the future of Nigerian Universities, as the launch of the Diaspora BRIDGE platform represents a significant step toward improving the research capacity of Nigerian universities. However, for the initiative to truly transform the higher education landscape, it must be part of a broader strategy to cultivate and build innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment creation. By focusing on industry-relevant research, increasing investment in R&D, and building strong links with the private sector, Nigerian universities can become powerful engines of national development. Moreover, the engagement of the diaspora, combined with a renewed focus on character formation and vocational training, will help create a generation of leaders who are equipped to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
As Nigeria continues to build on these initiatives, it must prioritize the creation of an ecosystem where research is not just academic but practical, applicable, and focused on the greater good of the country. By doing so, universities can contribute to creating the jobs, industries, and solutions that Nigeria needs to thrive in the 21st century.
