AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS THAT SHAPE RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AND DRIVE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

This study critically investigated the influence of strategic leadership dynamics on research productivity and the development of innovation ecosystems among academic staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with a focus on UNICAL, UNICROSS, and CRSUEE. Specifically, it examined how transformational and distributed leadership, strategic communication, and evidence-based decision-making affect research productivity; how leadership practices shape collaborative research culture, access to resources, and utilisation of digital and funding opportunities; and the extent to which institutional and systemic barriers hinder strategic leadership effectiveness. A survey research design was employed, and data were collected from 425 academic staff across the three institutions using structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses including means, standard deviations, regression, and correlation analyses were conducted to test the research questions and hypotheses. The findings indicate that transformational and distributed leadership significantly enhance research productivity and foster sustainable innovation ecosystems. Collaborative research culture, access to research resources, and digital/funding utilisation were positively influenced by strategic leadership practices. Conversely, institutional and systemic barriers, such as bureaucratic constraints, inadequate funding, high teaching workloads, and weak research culture, significantly hindered leadership effectiveness. The study concludes that strategic leadership is indispensable for promoting research excellence and innovation, and recommends the implementation of a comprehensive leadership framework integrating visionary, participatory, and evidence-based practices, coupled with resource mobilisation and incentive structures. These measures can strengthen research productivity, innovation capacity, and the broader societal impact of Nigerian tertiary institutions