The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has identified key challenges affecting Open Access publishing in Nigerian universities.
Ribadu spoke at the 114th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He described university libraries as central to academic quality, noting that weak libraries undermine university standards.
“Progress has been made through expanded electronic resources, but funding, infrastructure and utilization gaps persist,” he said.
According to Ribadu, these gaps hinder Nigerian universities from keeping pace with global shifts in knowledge production and dissemination.
“Digitization and open access have transformed how knowledge is created, accessed and shared. However, poor infrastructure, weak internet connectivity, unreliable electricity, low digital literacy, policy constraints, limited institutional support and inadequate research funding remain major barriers,” he said.
“Predatory journals and low-quality publications also threaten research integrity and require stronger evaluation mechanisms,” Ribadu added.
He stressed that open access improves research visibility, global competitiveness, and access to publicly funded research. He called for greater investment in digital infrastructure, institutional repositories, and expanded electronic resources, while emphasizing continuous training for librarians and researchers on digital tools, copyright, and open access systems.
Ribadu assured stakeholders of the NUC’s commitment to strengthening university libraries nationwide and urged librarians to adopt practical, collaborative solutions to navigate the transition to open access.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, who delivered the keynote speech, described open access as a transformative shift in scholarly publishing.
Speaking on the theme: “Managing University Libraries in the Era of Open Access Publishing: The Role of a Librarian,” Anunobi said open access removes financial and legal barriers, enabling free and immediate access to research outputs.
She noted that traditional subscription models restrict knowledge to institutions that can afford rising costs. According to her, open access enhances visibility, citation impact, and knowledge application for national development.
She, however, identified funding, quality assurance, and technical infrastructure as major challenges.
“Librarians must guard against predatory publishers and ensure research integrity. They must build expertise in repositories, metadata management and digital preservation. There is also a need to educate researchers on copyright, licensing and compliance with open access mandates,” she said.
Anunobi urged librarians to act as advocates for equity in global knowledge sharing.
In her remarks, the Chairman of AULNU, Prof. Angela Okpala, who is the Librarian at the National Open University of Nigeria, said libraries remain vital for the access and preservation of knowledge.
She noted the ongoing shift from traditional systems to open access, driven by rising journal costs and digital innovation.
“AULNU formulates policies and guides the Federal Government and other stakeholders on issues concerning the development of university libraries in Nigeria,” she said.
Okpala identified poor infrastructure, low awareness, inadequate funding, weak policies, limited institutional support, and gaps in librarians’ technical competencies as key challenges confronting open access publishing.
She called for increased advocacy, training, and investment in digital and research infrastructure. She also emphasised the need for institutional repositories, adoption of global research identifiers, and stronger guidance for researchers on publishing processes and responsible use of emerging technologies.
