The emergence of data-intensive research paradigms has fundamentally transformed the global academic landscape, positioning effective research data management (RDM) as an essential component of scholarly communication and knowledge production. Within the Nigerian higher education context, however, the development and implementation of systematic RDM practices remain at a nascent stage, characterized by significant disparities between institutional aspirations and operational realities. This comprehensive documentary review critically examines the current state of library data services and RDM infrastructure across Nigerian universities, with attention to dimensions of institutional readiness, policy frameworks, and practical implementation challenges. Methodologically, this study employs a systematic documentary analysis approach, synthesizing evidence from peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, national policy documents, and grey literature published between 2015 and 2025. Analytical frameworks drawn from the Data Curation Centre (DCC) lifecycle model and institutional theory inform the examination of how Nigerian academic libraries are navigating the complex transition toward data-conscious research ecosystems.
Key findings suggest that while several Nigerian universities have initiated RDM awareness programs, substantial gaps persist in technical infrastructure, human resource capacity, and sustainable funding models. Particularly noteworthy is the uneven distribution of RDM readiness across geopolitical zones, with southern institutions generally demonstrating more advanced capabilities than their northern counterparts. The policy analysis reveals that although the Revised National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (2022) formally endorses open science principles, operational guidelines for RDM implementation remain underdeveloped, creating ambiguity in institutional compliance requirements. Regarding practice, the review identifies emerging service models primarily focused on data storage and basic consultation, with more advanced services like data curation, metadata enhancement, and long-term preservation remaining largely aspirational. A significant tension emerges between the ethical imperatives of data protection, particularly concerning health research, and the open science mandates promoted in national policy frameworks.
This study contributes to ongoing scholarly conversations by proposing a contextualized RDM adoption framework specifically designed for resource-constrained academic environments. The framework emphasizes phased implementation strategies, leveraging existing institutional strengths while systematically addressing critical capability gaps. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the crucial mediating role that academic libraries could potentially play in bridging disciplinary silos and fostering collaborative data cultures, provided they receive adequate institutional support and professional development opportunities. Practical recommendations include the development of tiered RDM service portfolios aligned with institutional research priorities, the establishment of consortial approaches to infrastructure sharing among Nigerian universities, and the creation of context-sensitive training curricula for both librarians and researchers. These interventions, if strategically implemented, could substantially enhance the visibility, impact, and reproducibility of Nigerian research within global knowledge networks, while simultaneously addressing local developmental priorities through more effective mobilization of research data assets.
Keywords: research data management, academic libraries, Nigeria, open science, data services, documentary review, policy implementation
