Open Access, Institutional Repositories and Research Visibility in Nigerian Universities: Trends and Impact (2010–2025)

Abstract

The global shift towards open access (OA) publishing and the establishment of institutional repositories (IRs) are widely regarded as pivotal strategies for enhancing the visibility and impact of scholarly research. In the Nigerian context, where universities generate a substantial volume of research output, the potential of these digital platforms to amplify the global reach of indigenous knowledge remains a critical, yet underexplored, area of inquiry. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the growth, adoption, and perceived impact of IRs and OA policies within Nigerian universities from 2010 to 2025. Employing a secondary data analysis methodology, the research synthesizes evidence from directory listings (e.g., OpenDOAR), institutional policy documents, and a robust body of published empirical studies, many conducted by Nigerian scholars. The findings indicate a gradual but uneven expansion of IR infrastructure, with approximately 10 – 15% of Nigerian universities currently maintaining a functional repository by 2024 (Idiedo et al., 2024). Content analysis reveals a predominance of journal articles, theses, and conference papers, while multimedia and inaugural lectures are less commonly archived (Idiedo et al., 2024). Notably, the adoption of formal, institution-wide OA mandates remains exceptionally rare, with initiatives largely driven by library advocacy rather than top-down policy  (Idiedo et al., 2024; Open Access in Nigeria, 2025)