Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Research in Economics in Nigerian Tertiary Education

Abstract

This paper examines the role of digital technology in advancing sustainable research practices within economics departments of Nigerian tertiary institutions. It argues that the sustainability of economics research in Nigeria is increasingly tied to the extent to which researchers, departments, and institutions integrate digital tools into data collection, analysis, collaboration, and dissemination. Drawing on a review of existing literature and institutional practice, the paper identifies key technological instruments relevant to economics research, including statistical and econometric software, cloud-based collaboration platforms, open-access repositories, and artificial intelligence-assisted analytical tools. It further discusses the structural, infrastructural, and policy-related challenges that constrain technology adoption in Nigerian universities and polytechnics, such as inconsistent electricity supply, limited broadband access, inadequate funding, and low digital literacy among faculty. The paper concludes with a set of practical recommendations for researchers, university administrators, and policymakers, including targeted investment in research infrastructure, capacity-building programmes, and stronger linkages between technology adoption and existing funding mechanisms such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The paper is intended as a conceptual and educational contribution rather than a report of primary empirical findings.