Evidence-based policymaking relies on findings from research and analysis. The availability of 
information and data is the foundation for sound policy advice, but developing countries lack access 
to the timely knowledge and data fundamental for drawing reliable conclusions from research. Without 
a strong information management system, policy arguments are less likely to be effective. Therefore, 
it’s important to understand the relationship between research findings and decisionmaking. This brief 
summarizes results from an IFPRI assessment of the capacity of Nigerian libraries within the National 
Agriculture Research System (NARS) to support agricultural policy research.  

Background 

The traditional role of libraries is to collect, 
organize, preserve, and disseminate intellectual 
outputs, but the approaches to these activities are 
evolving to facilitate easier access. With the onset 
of the digital age, the role of libraries has expanded 
to not only serve as a center of collected printed 
materials, but also to provide access to electronic 
information.  However, libraries in developing 
countries are lagging and vary in their ability to 
provide access to knowledge resources, due to 
limitations in funding, power supply, Internet 
access, infrastructure, and human capacity.  

Status of Nigeria’s Libraries 

Nigeria’s government (federal and state) is the 
main financial supporter to public university 
education.  From 1948 to 1979, collections at 
university libraries grew extensively, as the 
Nigerian economy was strong and foreign 
exchange was available; but from 1980 to about 
2000, the collection rate was minimal, as the 
economy weakened. In the early 1980s, a policy 
that required an import license for books and 
journals inhibited libraries from importing 
publications. The situation worsened during the 
period of the structural adjustment program (SAP) 
when the local currency was sharply devaluated, 

making it very expensive to import books. In 1992, 
a Library Development Fund (LDF) was instituted 
(and is still in place). However, because of the 
university accreditation policy, university funding for 
library collection development is ad hoc -- generally 
allocated only when accreditation visits are 
expected.  

Some studies report low patronage of library 
facilities in Nigeria as a result of a low level of 
awareness, a lack of relevant materials, and a poor 
reading environment, while other studies reveal that 
students use the library mostly during examination 
period and for class assignments. Another 
assessment revealed that Nigeria’s libraries have 
insufficient funding for collection development and 
that late budget approvals impede proper planning 
for purchasing new publications and maintaining 
journal subscriptions.  The assessment indicated 
that rather than creating a cooperative 
environment, insufficient funding promoted an 
environment of unhealthy competition—at a time 
when libraries would have greatly benefited from 
mutual support.  

Method and Data 

The IFPRI study gathered data through focus group 
discussions with library staff at six libraries in five 

The Role of Libraries in Supporting Agricultural Policy Research in Nigeria
 

Valerie Rhoe, Victor Oboh, and Peter Shelton 

         
       NIGERIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM Brief No. 21  



federal universities and one research institute. 
These included the University of Ibadan (UI); 
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife; 
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB); and 
the Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic 
Research (NISER), Ibadan, in Southwestern 
Nigeria; and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria 
and the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) in 
North-West and North-Central Nigeria, respectively.  
In addition, focus group discussions were held with 
faculty members and postgraduate students at 
three of these selected universities. 

Results 

Libraries’ Capacity for Supporting Agricultural 
Policy Research 

Researchers considered the human and material 
capacity of libraries to support policy research. The 
research shows that there is a shortage of trained 
librarians in Nigerian university and research 
libraries.  About 19 percent of the library staff 
provides library-specific support while the 
remaining staff (81 percent) consists of 
administrative and other support staff. It was also 
clear from the discussions that four of the 
institutions lacked qualified personnel for managing 
the operations and maintenance of the library’s 
Internet connection.  

Material/ Electronic Resources 

 All the libraries observed had hard copies of both 
local and international journals, but recent versions 
of the journals were not available.  None of the 
libraries, except one, carried direct subscriptions to 
electronic journals, but all of the libraries had 
access to databases such as AGORA and TEEAL 
and  had some access to other databases such 
EBSCOhost, HINARI, INASP, OARE, and JSTOR, 
which provide access to published and “gray” 
literature.  

Library users typically had access to hard copies of 
data but not electronic copies of the raw data, such 
as datasets from the National Living Standard 
Survey and the Core Welfare Indicators 
Questionnaire.  Furthermore, the intellectual output 
of the institutions’ research and teaching staff was 
only minimally available in their libraries. One 

possible explanation is that university staff is only 
required to submit institution-sponsored research 
reports to their library.  

The quality of Internet service and the number of 
computers varied across the seven libraries. Some 
libraries receive special grants for Internet service. 
In most libraries that provide access to the Internet, 
the majority of the computers did not have virus 
protection.   

A general consensus in all focus group discussions 
was that the inter-library loan system is not 
effective. Participants identified lack of cooperation 
from partner institutions, high cost of postage, long 
geographical distance between institutions, and 
lack of Internet connectivity as contributing factors 
to the failure of the system. 

Access to Research by Faculty Members and 
Students 

The researchers and students who participated in 
the focus group discussions came from University 
of Ibadan, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, and 
Obafemi  Awolowo University. In general, 
participants reported that they accessed 
publications from experts directly, from the Internet, 
and from other research libraries in addition to their 
own institution library, because of the lack of 
current and up-to-date books and journals, poor 
infrastructure (especially electricity), and a 
perceived unfriendly library staff attitude. 

While databases like AGORA and INASP are 
available, only a few of the group participants had 
accessed AGORA and none had accessed the 
other programs. Deeper discussion suggested that 
insufficient knowledge of available resources and 
how to use them could be primary factors.  

Policy Recommendations 

There is a growing trend among university libraries 
in developing countries to become virtual libraries. 
For these libraries to properly support agricultural 
policy research in Nigeria they will need to tap into 
globally available information resources. To support 
this transition, these libraries need to develop 
appropriate infrastructure, strengthen their staff 



capacity, build consortia, and strengthen 
communications. 

Infrastructure: The main impediments to Nigeria’s 
university library system are inadequate power and 
Internet bandwidth.  Without adequate, reliable 
electricity, supporting a virtual library will be 
challenging and costly. However, with reliable 
power, the benefits outweigh the costs. In addition, 
better allocation of dedicated bandwidth will allow 
faculty and students to search and download on-
line literature and data within a reasonable time. 
Therefore, necessary infrastructure for providing 
electricity and Internet service is required, along 
with a sufficient number of computers with 
appropriate software, such as virus protection.    

Capacity: It is evident that the staffing needs for 
supporting library users have not been met; 
therefore, an assessment of existing library staffing 
needs is required. The assessment should consider 
the current and future needs of the library, including 
the type of skills required, as the library becomes 
digital.  Secondly, as technology evolves, staff 
members will need ongoing training to adequately 
support researchers and students.  

Consortia: Inadequate collection of physical and 
electronic publications is a common challenge 

faced by all seven libraries. Efforts are needed to 
strengthen the few existing library consortia—or to 
develop a new consortium supporting agriculture 
research—to reduce the cost of subscribing to 
journals and electronic databases, share 
knowledge and experiences in transitioning to a 
virtual system, and encourage an inter-library loan 
system.  

Libraries could also encourage faculty to donate 
copies of their publications by providing incentives, 
such as displaying and announcing such 
publications.  The theses of graduate students 
could also be electronically submitted and uploaded 
to MALICO, a database of theses produced in 
African universities. 

Communication: The communication gap between 
library staff and faculty and students results in the 
underuse of library resources. Libraries need to 
develop and run regular information campaigns, 
and provide regular training to students and faculty 
members on how to use the resources available, 
especially new digital tools and databases. 
Announcements about resources, training, and 
other pertinent information could be directly 
conveyed to students and faculty by using existing 
free web-based software programs like wikis and 
blogs or posters within the departments.  

 

This brief is excerpted from NSSP Background Paper #14, “The Role of Libraries in Supporting Agricultural Policy Research - Evidence from Selected 
University and Research Institute Libraries in Nigeria.”  It is intended to promote discussion; it has not been formally peer reviewed, but it has been 
reviewed by at least one internal and/or external reviewer.  

The Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP) of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) supports the Agricultural Policy Support 
Facility (APSF), an initiative to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria in the areas of rural and agricultural development. In collaboration 
with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), APSF supports 
the implementation of Nigeria’s national development plans by strengthening agricultural-sector policies and strategies. 

Copyright © 2010, International Food Policy Research Institute. All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced for personal and not-for-profit use 
without permission from but with acknowledgment to IFPRI. For other use, contact ifpri-copyright@cgiar.org. 

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