International marketing expert Prof. Nathaniel Boso, from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, is advocating for higher education institutions in Africa to prioritize research and innovation for sustainable development.
He emphasized that this focus on research and innovation will drive industrial growth and boost Africa’s position in international business and trade.
Prof. Boso highlighted the importance of high-quality research outputs that meet international standards, as African businesses are eager to utilize such research to make informed decisions and drive new innovations. He also called for a shift towards a national policy orientation that rewards and supports evidence-based decision-making in both business organizations and public institutions.
During his professorial inaugural lecture on “International Business: Why care about Africa?”, Prof. Boso emphasized the need for the creation of autonomous research-intensive universities dedicated to pioneering ground-breaking African context research. He suggested that established public universities like the University of Ghana and the University of Nairobi could be revamped to focus on producing top-tier researchers and innovators.
Furthermore, Prof. Boso discussed efforts to advance research capacity in African business and management, including establishing centers of excellence and research chairs. He concluded his lecture with policy recommendations to enhance the quality of African context research, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing research quality in higher education institutions and fostering truly autonomous research-intensive universities.
Overall, Prof. Boso’s lecture provided valuable insights into the importance of research and innovation in driving sustainable development and promoting Africa’s role in international business and trade. His recommendations underscored the critical need for African higher education institutions to prioritize research and innovation to stay relevant in a globalized economy.
