Research funding agencies and national governments increasingly require grant recipients to preserve and make their research data publicly accessible for reuse and further study. This study examines the awareness and perception of research data management (RDM) among librarians in selected universities in Edo State, focusing on Ambrose Alli University, the University of Benin, and Edo University. A descriptive survey research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire for data collection. The study population comprised 94 librarians, and a total enumeration sampling technique was used. Out of the 94 distributed questionnaires, 69 were retrieved and analyzed using simple percentage, frequency count, mean, and standard deviation. Findings indicate that while librarians are generally aware of RDM, they perceive it as still emerging within academic libraries. The study also revealed that librarians possess the potential to effectively implement RDM services. However, challenges such as inadequate human resources, limited funding, and shrinking institutional support hinder effective RDM adoption. Additionally, the cost of RDM implementation and the need for specialized skills among librarians were identified as significant barriers. To enhance RDM adoption, the study recommends reskilling librarians through workshops, seminars, and conferences, ensuring adequate funding and human resource support for academic libraries, integrating research data into institutional repositories for improved visibility, and providing incentives to researchers to encourage data sharing.

Keywords: Research Data Management, Awareness, Perception, Academic Libraries, Data Visibility