By Theresa Moses
African universities have been urged to strengthen their research culture, improve quality assurance and promote innovation as key drivers of global relevance and development.
Dr. Muhammad Jamiu Mustapha, Executive Director of CEREDEMS-Africa and an academic with affiliations to MISIS University and RUDN University, made the call while delivering a presentation at the September edition of the African 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 examine the state of research in African universities and strategies for improving its global impact.
In his presentation, Mustapha challenged universities to examine whether their research culture was “appreciating or depreciating” in value, arguing that global relevance should be measured not only by the volume of research produced but also by citations, international partnerships and policy influence.
He said African institutions must develop research agendas that respond to their own development challenges instead of relying heavily on external frameworks and priorities.
According to him, Sub-Saharan Africa contributes less than one per cent of global scientific output despite accounting for about 14 per cent of the world’s population.
He attributed the gap to fragmented research ecosystems, dependence on Western academic frameworks and journals, and inadequate integration of indigenous knowledge into formal research.
Mustapha called on universities to establish clear research clusters and develop coordinated research programmes capable of producing knowledge with both local and international relevance.
Quality Assurance and Innovation
The academic also stressed the need for African universities to move away from viewing quality assurance primarily as a compliance exercise.
He argued that quality assurance should serve as a strategic tool for promoting innovation, strengthening research systems and improving institutional performance.
Mustapha referenced the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) principles, which encourage research to be assessed on its merits rather than relying excessively on journal prestige or publication metrics.
He proposed an 80-20 approach to institutional research, suggesting that about 80 per cent of research should align with institutional priorities while 20 per cent should remain open to individual academic curiosity and emerging areas of inquiry.
He further advocated hybrid knowledge systems that bring together indigenous African knowledge, Western academic frameworks and global best practices.
According to him, such an approach would help create a more inclusive academic environment while strengthening Africa’s contribution to global knowledge.
A Research Roadmap for West African Universities
Mustapha also outlined a five-step roadmap for strengthening research across West African universities.
The approach includes faculty-led research agendas, thematic research hubs and stronger collaboration between universities, industry and government.
He described the university-industry-government relationship as a critical component of building research systems capable of translating academic knowledge into practical solutions.
During the question-and-answer session, participants raised concerns about journal rankings, publication in high-impact journals and the promotion of African theories and perspectives in global scholarship.
Mustapha encouraged researchers to maintain consistent areas of research focus while seeking opportunities to publish in reputable high-impact journals.
He also urged academics to develop theories and research questions that respond to African realities rather than simply reproducing frameworks developed elsewhere.
AWAU Leadership
Opening the webinar, the Chairman of AWAU, Professor Wahab Olasupo Ekbewole, welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of sustained conversations around the development of higher education and research in West Africa.
Ekbewole, who was introduced at the session by Dr. Alex, later challenged academics to examine how their areas of specialisation could be connected to local realities and development needs.
He encouraged participants to look beyond academic specialisation and consider how their knowledge could contribute to solving problems within their communities and across the region.
The colloquium concluded with renewed emphasis on building stronger research cultures, improving quality assurance and creating innovative academic systems capable of giving African universities greater visibility and influence in global knowledge production.
By Theresa Moses
