Lagos: The Retail Development and Investment Company (RDIC Africa) has unveiled Nigeria’s first indigenous private sector-driven research repository database to boost the visibility and utilisation of locally generated research. Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, RDIC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ejimofor Akah, announced the launch of the Iwemi National Academic Research Innovation Challenge, aimed at driving economic growth through research and innovation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akah detailed that the initiative, facilitated by Wema Bank, focuses on 10 strategic sectors, including fintech, agriculture, healthcare, economic diversification, and SME development. He further disclosed that the project offers a N25 million prize pool for the top 10 research submissions in 2026, with the purpose of bridging the gap between academic research and industry application while improving Nigeria’s global research ranking.
Akah explained that the online portal opened for submissions on June 1, allowing students, graduates, and researchers to upload their work for global visibility. He emphasized the ease of submission, stating, “If you have a research paper that can impact the Nigerian economy, simply visit the portal and upload it. Within about 15 minutes, your work can become visible to the world.” The platform has already attracted researchers and information seekers from countries such as China, India, and the United Kingdom.
The CEO also highlighted that indexing on major search platforms would enhance the discovery and accessibility of research materials hosted on the repository. He expressed optimism about the prize fund, stating, “There is a N25 million prize pool for the top 10 winners this year, and we expect the reward package to increase in future editions.” Contributors will benefit from global exposure, royalty earnings, career opportunities, and unrestricted access to their uploaded works. Moreover, owners of older research projects are encouraged to submit hard copies for digitisation and inclusion on the platform, thus bringing valuable research hidden in cupboards and libraries to the public space.
Akah urged government agencies and stakeholders to support the initiative to maximise research impact on national development and economic growth. Highlighting the importance of originality in research, University of Lagos Librarian Prof. Olatokunbo Okiki stressed that research must generate new knowledge rather than recycle existing ideas. Okiki described originality as the defining feature of quality research and a key criterion in assessing academic theses, noting that research aligned with national priorities receives greater support in other countries.
Prof. John Foloju, Head of the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies at UNILAG, highlighted the need to bridge the gap between research and industry, calling for stronger collaboration to transform research into practical solutions. He described the Iwemi digital repository as a platform capable of preserving African research outputs and making them accessible to industry and society.
In his remarks, Iwemi Project Executive Director, Mr Iheukwumere Amadi, called on institutions, corporate organisations, and education-focused foundations to support the initiative. Amadi noted that collaboration and funding would help rewrite the narrative around research, promoting job creation, wealth generation, and broader economic development in Nigeria.