Populating Institutional Repositories in Nigeria using Research Data: Challenges and Prospect

Abstract

Institutional Repositories (IR) are the storehouse of knowledge and intellectual outputs emanating from a research institution. The contents vary from journal articles, conference proceedings, inaugural lectures, theses and dissertations, and research data (datasets). Research data is any information that has been collected, observed, generated, or created to validate original research findings. This study explored the prospects and challenges of depositing research data in the IR focusing on university libraries in the five federal universities of technology in Nigeria, namely: Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMIN), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola (MAUTECH), and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU). Four (4) research questions were formulated while qualitative data was collected from the five University Librarians using interview guides. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and findings revealed that four FUTs have an existing IR, although there is low upload of research data on the repository. Librarians have the required skills to offer research data management services, even though the service is yet to be deployed to researchers in the university community. Recommendations include the need for continuous advocacy by the library on research data management and policy formulation by the university management to encourage the need for depositing research data in the Institutional Repository.