Different development partners support research and capacity building in universities in different areas and for different motives. However, whatever the reasons for or areas of support, the research supported must contribute to the development of the institution, students, staff and the society at large. The supports should be able to enhance research activities and capacity building and promote knowledge creation that enables individuals and institutions to produce and use knowledge for sustainable development. This evaluative study examines strategic supports to research capacity building and knowledge creation in the universities to ascertain the effectiveness of the supports from development partners in the development of South-South Region of Nigeria. Areas of focus include: Intervention areas; areas of support for capacity building through knowledge creation; patenting research findings; and Challenges facing research support efforts in the universities. It is expected that the analysis will reveal the quality of research supported, their impact on the development and whether the support relate more effectively and responsibly to the needs of the society. Data for the study will be collected using document analysis and interview schedules. The statistical tool for the analysis will be mean scores, percentages and rank order. The findings show among others that medicine, science and education are the fields of study that have received the highest amount for research supports; donation of equipment, increase in graduate programmes and sponsorship and computer training are the areas that have received greatest support for capacity building. None of the research findings and inventions has been patented, though most of the inventions are already in use. Recommendations include, among others: Scholars should be exposed to modalities for registration of their inventions for patent, so that funding will be used for development. There should be a strategic National Policy framework for effective dissemination of research results and Patent; research fares should be conducted regularly within and among institutions to showcase their inventions for the intending users to see thereby encouraging "university/industry collaboration."