Research data management services among librarians in Nigerian universities.

This article investigates research data management (RDM) services among librarians in public universities in South-west Nigeria, focusing on their roles, involvement, benefits, and challenges. It finds that while librarians recognize their roles in facilitating research, verifying data, promoting scientific communication, and supporting long-term data storage, their actual involvement in RDM activities is low. Libraries benefit from RDM through improved data accessibility, intellectual property clarity, data protection, and enhanced research collaboration. Key challenges hindering effective RDM include the lack of formal data management plans, limited funding from research agencies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient training for librarians. The study recommends establishing dedicated RDM centers in Nigerian university libraries, improving policy frameworks, and enhancing librarian capacity to support research communities effectively.