[2] Prior to NISER, colonial authorities established the West African Institute of Social and Economic Research.
The center was founded in 1950 and headquartered in Ibadan with a mission to provide information on economic and social ideas that will be pivotal to development of British West African countries.
Thereafter, NISER's responsibilities include coordinating social and economic research in federal universities.
[3] NISER's products and activities include publications of conference proceedings and research findings, organizing training workshops, and seminars.
[citation needed] In 2010, NISER began collaborating with Brookings Institution in the latter's African Growth Initiative program.