Mustapha urges African varsities to strengthen research culture for global relevance
By Muizdeen Adewole
African universities have been urged to strengthen their research culture, improve quality assurance, and promote innovation as critical drivers of global relevance and sustainable development.
This call was made penultimate Saturday, (September 12, 2026) by the Executive Director of CEREDEMS-Africa and an academic with affiliations to MISIS University and RUDN University, Dr Muhammad Jamiu Mustapha, during his presentation at the September edition of the Association of West African Universities, AWAU, Monthly Colloquium Series.
The Webinar, themed “Research Culture as the Currency of Global Relevance through Quality Assurance and Innovation,” brought together academics and stakeholders in higher education to assess the state of research in African universities and strategies for improving its global impact.
Dr Mustapha challenged institutions to assess whether their research culture was “appreciating or depreciating” in value. He noted that global relevance should be measured not only by research volume, but also by citations, international partnerships, and policy influence.
He expressed concern that Sub-Saharan Africa contributes less than one percent of global scientific output despite accounting for about 14 percent of the world’s population.
“The gap is linked to fragmented research ecosystems, overdependence on Western academic frameworks and journals, and inadequate integration of indigenous knowledge into formal research,” he said.
To address the challenge, Dr Mustapha called on universities to develop research agendas that respond to Africa’s development priorities rather than relying solely on external frameworks. He also advocated the establishment of clear research clusters and coordinated programmes that are capable of producing knowledge with both local and international relevance.
The Executive Director stressed that quality assurance should go beyond compliance and serve as a strategic tool for promoting innovation and strengthening institutional performance.
Dr Mustapha proposed an “80-20 approach” to institutional research, in which about 80 percent of research should align with institutional priorities while 20 per cent should remain open to individual academic curiosity and emerging areas.
He also canvassed hybrid knowledge systems that integrate indigenous African knowledge, Western academic frameworks, and global best practices to create a more inclusive academic environment.
The scholar outlined a five-step roadmap for strengthening research across West African universities. The roadmap includes Faculty-led research agendas, establishment of thematic research hubs, and stronger collaboration between universities, industry, and government.
He described the university-industry-government relationship as critical to translating academic knowledge into practical solutions for society.
Dr Mustapha encouraged researchers to maintain consistent research focus while targeting reputable high-impact journals. He further urged academics to develop theories and research questions that address African realities instead of simply reproducing frameworks developed elsewhere.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, emphasised the need for sustained dialogue on the development of higher education and research in West Africa.
Prof. Egbewole challenged academics to connect their areas of specialisation to local realities and development needs.
“Beyond academic specialisation, we must ask how our knowledge can solve problems within our communities and across the region,” he said.
