Professional Assessment of Classical Studies Research Output from Nigerian Universities (2015-2023)

Systematic bibliometric and qualitative assessment of Classical Studies research output from Nigerian universities provides an evidence base for policy, resource allocation, and international collaboration decisions that is currently unavailable. This study conducts a professional assessment of Classical Studies research output from Nigerian universities for the period 2015 to 2023. A bibliometric and qualitative research audit methodology was adopted, systematically searching Scopus, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and institutional repositories for Classical Studies publications with Nigerian institutional affiliations. Identified publications were categorised by sub-discipline, methodology, geographic focus, and citation impact. Interviews with 20 Classical Studies researchers at eight Nigerian universities supplemented bibliometric data with qualitative accounts of research conditions, publication barriers, and collaboration patterns. Findings reveal 217 identifiable Classical Studies publications with Nigerian institutional affiliations during the period, of which 68 percent were journal articles and 24 percent book chapters. Classical reception studies and comparative African-classical themes account for 55 percent of output, reflecting the distinctive focus of Nigerian scholarship. Citation impact is significantly lower than international comparators, attributable to limited subscription access to international journals and minimal international collaboration. Research funding from Nigerian sources is cited as inadequate by 87 percent of surveyed researchers. The study proposes a Nigerian Classical Studies Research Enhancement Strategy including a dedicated national funding stream, an annual national Classical Studies symposium, and a shared digital research infrastructure.

Keywords: research output, bibliometric assessment, Classical Studies, Nigerian universities, research policy