PROBLEMS FACING RESEARCH IN NIGERIA
Many problems bedevil research in developing countries in which Nigeria is one. There are one thousand and one problems militating against conducting purposeful research in Nigeria in particular and in all developed Countries. Some of these problems are examined below:
Laziness on the part of the researchers
Scarcity of research facilities
Illiteracy
Security
Inadequate statistics
Political instability
Inadequate research funds
Scanty information base
Secrecy
Dominance of small scale organization
Lack of Coordination
The absence of well articulated plans
LAZINESS ON THE PART OF RESEARCHERS
Most of the ‘so called’ researchers in Nigeria are very lazy. Conducting their studies faithfully and truthfully should be their aim, instead, they refuse to go through the rigor of a research process. They go out looking for ‘cheap’ ways of solving their research problems or question. This is a serious threat militating against conducting purposeful research in Nigeria because whatever conclusion drawn by such dubious researchers cannot be reliable or valid.
SCARCITY OF RESEARCH FACILITIES
For a meaningful research to be undertaken, the researcher must have access to research facilities, such as research centres, laboratories, and libraries. Dearth of research centres and laboratories in Nigeria make the work of researchers difficult and, on many occasions, inconclusive. Also, most of the libraries in Nigeria are poorly equipped because of lack of funds.
ILLITERACY
Many People are not sufficiently educated and could not appreciate the value of many research undertaking. It is also difficult for people who cannot read and write to appreciate the need to supply relevant information and their inability to complete research to complete research questionnaire blanks also add to the problem.
SECURITY
This frustrates the researcher in his effort to generate meaningful data.
INADEQUATE STATISTICS
This limits the degree of researcher’s effectiveness and by extension of his research findings.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
This is another factor that inhibits research in Nigeria. Research takes time it can never be done in a hurry. But national development plans including research plans in Nigeria are seen here and there. But such plans are transient and disjointed. Each administration comes with its own programmes and such programmes fade away at the slightest opportunity and end up with the government that initiated them. It will be foolhardy to expect such transient and duplicated programmes to be result oriented.
INADEQUATE RESEARCH FUNDS
Conducting a purposeful research requires huge amount of money. The researcher needs a lot of money for many things: printing and distributing of questionnaire, obtaining all necessary equipments, travelling here and there. Etc. If the needed money is not available, it would mar the conduct of a research. This discourages research of all forms, government, institution/organizations do not quite appreciate development and therefore do not provide sufficient amount for research of all types.
SCANTY INFORMATION BASE
This narrows down the quantity and quality of literature available to a researcher. In other words, not as much research findings have been accumulated from where a researcher can be drawn from.
SECRECY
The task of data collection is not always easy. Even in government ministries, information that otherwise would be for public consumption is considered ‘secret’. Experience has shown that some members of the population will be reluctant to cooperate in rendering some vital information. Sometimes, they are biased with sentiments or ego, feeling to promote the status of their organization and/or themselves.
DOMINANCE OF SMALL SCALE ORGANIZATION
First generation managers of Nigerian industries are not sufficiently educated and could not appreciate the values of research in industries and government for research studies. Due to the management style and lack of finance.
LACK OF COORDINATION
There is clearly no coordinating body to look into the missing of planning, setting of national priorities, dissemination and utilization of research result. This ties in well with the poor bibliographic control results. In Nigeria, a user has to know what exists before he can ask for and use it. In practice, many of the research reports remain on the shelves unused and only gather dust.
THE ABSENCE OF WELL ARTICULATED PLANS
The problem of absence of well articulated plans contains implementable objectives and policies. Several forms of linkages could be seen as crucial in the development of research objectives, priority setting and planning exercises, review and evaluation activities, collaborative professional activities, the exchange of resources and training. Such linkages need to be formalized, parse, as individual initiatives should not be suppressed by rules and regulations.
Many problems bedevil research in developing countries in which Nigeria is one. There are one thousand and one problems militating against conducting purposeful research in Nigeria in particular and in all developed Countries. Some of these problems are examined below:
Laziness on the part of the researchers
Scarcity of research facilities
Illiteracy
Security
Inadequate statistics
Political instability
Inadequate research funds
Scanty information base
Secrecy
Dominance of small scale organization
Lack of Coordination
The absence of well articulated plans
LAZINESS ON THE PART OF RESEARCHERS
Most of the ‘so called’ researchers in Nigeria are very lazy. Conducting their studies faithfully and truthfully should be their aim, instead, they refuse to go through the rigor of a research process. They go out looking for ‘cheap’ ways of solving their research problems or question. This is a serious threat militating against conducting purposeful research in Nigeria because whatever conclusion drawn by such dubious researchers cannot be reliable or valid.
SCARCITY OF RESEARCH FACILITIES
For a meaningful research to be undertaken, the researcher must have access to research facilities, such as research centres, laboratories, and libraries. Dearth of research centres and laboratories in Nigeria make the work of researchers difficult and, on many occasions, inconclusive. Also, most of the libraries in Nigeria are poorly equipped because of lack of funds.
ILLITERACY
Many People are not sufficiently educated and could not appreciate the value of many research undertaking. It is also difficult for people who cannot read and write to appreciate the need to supply relevant information and their inability to complete research to complete research questionnaire blanks also add to the problem.
SECURITY
This frustrates the researcher in his effort to generate meaningful data.
INADEQUATE STATISTICS
This limits the degree of researcher’s effectiveness and by extension of his research findings.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
This is another factor that inhibits research in Nigeria. Research takes time it can never be done in a hurry. But national development plans including research plans in Nigeria are seen here and there. But such plans are transient and disjointed. Each administration comes with its own programmes and such programmes fade away at the slightest opportunity and end up with the government that initiated them. It will be foolhardy to expect such transient and duplicated programmes to be result oriented.
INADEQUATE RESEARCH FUNDS
Conducting a purposeful research requires huge amount of money. The researcher needs a lot of money for many things: printing and distributing of questionnaire, obtaining all necessary equipments, travelling here and there. Etc. If the needed money is not available, it would mar the conduct of a research. This discourages research of all forms, government, institution/organizations do not quite appreciate development and therefore do not provide sufficient amount for research of all types.
SCANTY INFORMATION BASE
This narrows down the quantity and quality of literature available to a researcher. In other words, not as much research findings have been accumulated from where a researcher can be drawn from.
SECRECY
The task of data collection is not always easy. Even in government ministries, information that otherwise would be for public consumption is considered ‘secret’. Experience has shown that some members of the population will be reluctant to cooperate in rendering some vital information. Sometimes, they are biased with sentiments or ego, feeling to promote the status of their organization and/or themselves.
DOMINANCE OF SMALL SCALE ORGANIZATION
First generation managers of Nigerian industries are not sufficiently educated and could not appreciate the values of research in industries and government for research studies. Due to the management style and lack of finance.
LACK OF COORDINATION
There is clearly no coordinating body to look into the missing of planning, setting of national priorities, dissemination and utilization of research result. This ties in well with the poor bibliographic control results. In Nigeria, a user has to know what exists before he can ask for and use it. In practice, many of the research reports remain on the shelves unused and only gather dust.
THE ABSENCE OF WELL ARTICULATED PLANS
The problem of absence of well articulated plans contains implementable objectives and policies. Several forms of linkages could be seen as crucial in the development of research objectives, priority setting and planning exercises, review and evaluation activities, collaborative professional activities, the exchange of resources and training. Such linkages need to be formalized, parse, as individual initiatives should not be suppressed by rules and regulations.
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