A University of Lagos professor, Chris Obisi, has warned that a chronic lack of funding for academic research is stunting innovation in Nigeria’s universities and urged corporate organisations to step in.
Obisi, who specialises in Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, raised the alarm while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.
He said many research findings generated by universities sit idle because industry does not buy into or fund the work.
The don lamented that some companies were sponsoring Big Brother Naija but were reluctant to sponsor universities’ intellectual research.
“There should be more synergy between research, research outcomes, industry, and the university so that industry can be funding university and research outcomes, which some companies are not doing.
“It’s a shame, I don’t want to sound depressed. How can a company be sponsoring Big Brother but cannot fund research? How can a company be playing to the gallery but cannot fund research?
“This is a sort of misplaced priority, and that is why we are lagging,” he stated.
He dismissed the notion that most companies don’t support academic research because it is not profitable.
He argued that funding research is not solely the responsibility of government or universities, but a collaborative effort in which companies stand to gain.
“Most of innovations coming out all over the world as a result of collaborative effort and funding by companies and organisations. You see Big X funding so many researchers.
“Companies can collaborate with the universities, fund research for their own benefit, and they will make more money,” he said.
Obisi said universities and governments do provide research funds, but these are insufficient.
He urged Nigerian businesses to change perspective, engage researchers, and support studies that could yield commercially viable innovations.
“Nigerian organisations must also collaborate and listen to researchers. We have written to many companies that want to carry out the research on this, which will benefit companies, but many of them are not interested. Some of them are not interested.”
Housemates in the ongoing 2025 Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemates are battling for the N150m grand prize, among other perks.
The reality show is hosted in a newly unveiled luxurious mansion that features bold colours, trendy interiors, and striking designs.
Previous and current sponsors of the programme include Guinness Nigeria, Bet9ja, Pepsi, TECNO, and Colgate.
