Institutional Leadership and Advancement of Research Data Management (RDM) Policies in Universities in North Central Nigeria

Research Data Management (RDM) has become an essential component of research governance in higher education institutions because it promotes research integrity, data preservation, accessibility, and compliance with international research standards. Despite increasing research activities in Nigerian universities, the implementation of effective RDM policies remains inconsistent due to leadership, institutional, and infrastructural challenges. This study investigated the role of institutional leadership in advancing Research Data Management policies in universities in North Central Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined how institutional leadership influences the adoption and implementation of RDM policies, identified leadership strategies that facilitate i nnovation and compliance, assessed challenges hindering effective policy implementation, and proposed measures for strengthening leadership effectiveness in RDM governance. A convergent mixed -methods research design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 150 university administrators, librarians, research directors, and academic staff using a structured questionnaire, while qualitative data were obtained through semi - structured interviews with 20 institutional leaders. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative data. The findings revealed that institutional leadership effectiveness, institutional support, and RDM infrastructure jointly had a significant influence on the implementation of RDM policies (F = 51.286, p < 0.05). Institutional leadership effectiveness emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.438, p < 0.05), followed by institutional support (β = 0.307, p < 0.05) and RDM i nfrastructure (β = 0.215, p < 0.05). Qualitative findings further demonstrated that participatory leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous capacity development enhance successful RDM implementation, while inadequate funding , weak ICT infrastructure, limited technical expertise, and resistance to organizational change remain major barriers. The study concluded that effective institutional leadership is fundamental to strengthening research data governance and improving resear ch productivity in universities. It recommended strengthening leadership capacity, increasing institutional support, and investing in sustainable digital infrastructure to enhance the implementation of Research Data Management policies in universities in North Central Nigeria.