Institutional Capacity for Health Education Research in Nigerian Universities: A Mixed Methods Assessment

The production of high-quality health education research in Nigeria is constrained by institutional capacity limitations including funding deficits, inadequate research infrastructure, limited faculty research training, and weak linkages between academic institutions and health education practice. This study conducted a comprehensive mixed methods assessment of institutional capacity for health education research in Nigerian universities, drawing on data from 24 universities across all six geopolitical zones. Phase one involved a structured institutional capacity survey administered to 240 health education faculty members. Phase two involved 30 key informant interviews with heads of department, research deans, and national health education professional body representatives. Phase three involved document analysis of 120 published health education research outputs from Nigerian universities over the period 2020 to 2024. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and qualitative thematic analysis were applied. Results showed significant capacity gaps in grant writing skills, ethical review infrastructure, multi-institutional collaboration, and research-to-policy translation mechanisms. Institutions in the South West demonstrated higher research capacity scores, while those in the North East and North West were most constrained. The study proposes an original Institutional Health Education Research Capacity Framework for Nigeria and makes recommendations for national capacity building investment and professional development. Keywords: institutional capacity, health education research, Nigerian universities, research capacity assessment, mixed methods