Experts identify inadequate funding, inequality as major barriers to research in Africa
By Yunus Yusuf
Experts have identified inadequate funding, inequality, and systemic imbalances as major obstacles hampering research in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Social Impact Summit held in Lagos, panelists said that there was need for increased investment in local researchers and indigenous knowledge systems.
The theme of the summit, “Unlocking the Power of Indigenous Knowledge-Building for Sustainable Development in Africa,” was co-convened by the United Nations in Nigeria and the Sterling One Foundation.
Mrs Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Director of Spaces for Change, highlighted the disparity in global research funding.
“As of 2020, the average base salary for researchers in the U.S. stood at $54,411 annually.
“In 2021, global spending on COVID-19 research hit $5 billion. Funding for Ebola research in 2015 reached $1.035 billion,” she said.
Ibezim-Ohaeri highlighted grants such as George Soros’ $100 million donation to Human Rights Watch in 2020 and the $270 million disbursed by the East-West Management Institute.
According to her, these are to support research across civic, public, and private sectors globally, including in Africa.
“These are impressive figures, but are African organisations truly benefiting from these opportunities?
“The answer is often no,” she stated, underscoring the need for equitable distribution of funding.
Similarly, Prof. Bell Ihua, Executive Director of the Africa Polling Institute, said that there are many cases where such stories were being told by others.
She noted that it was primarily because African researchers were underrepresented and underfunded.
“Most of the funding comes from outside the continent,” he said.
Mrs Fumilayo Ayeni, Country Director for Innovations for Poverty Action in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of homegrown knowledge.
“As social scientists, our work stems directly from society, whether studying social cohesion, internal migration, or the so-called ‘Canada rush’ involving Nigerian emigration.
“Indigenous knowledge is rooted in our realities,” she said.
However, she lamented the lack of adequate financial support.
“Highly skilled researchers are expensive, and unfortunately, most African institutions and governments lack the capacity to fund them adequately.
“Research is largely financed by donors from the Global North,” Ayeni added.
Dr Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, pointed to both demand- and supply-side challenges.
“There’s a weak demand for research in decision-making. Many policymakers do not value research as a tool for informed governance.
“Without a strong research culture, achieving sustainable development will remain difficult,” he said.
“A culture of evidence-based decision-making is still emerging, but we are not there yet.
“Without data, we can’t measure progress or implement meaningful change,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Innocent Ikpamezie, a member of the House Committee on Environment, Imo State House of Assembly, urged African researchers to be more assertive.
“Many researchers lack boldness in pursuing significant projects. That timid spirit must be shed. Africa has the talent and capacity, we just need to harness it,” he said.
He cited a collaborative effort between Spaces for Change and the Imo State Ministry of Environment on climate change law development as a model of effective indigenous participation.
“It started modestly, almost like a joke, but the outcome was impactful,” Ikpamezie recalled.
