Mentoring Practices Among Academic Staff In Selected Higher Education Institutions In Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined mentoring practices among academic staff in selected Higher

Education Institutions (HEIs) in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study applied a survey

research design using a semi-structured questionnaire as a data collection instrument. A

total of 325 academic staff served as the sample size for this study using the convenience

sampling technique to facilitate the online selection of respondents. Data was collected

online via a Google questionnaire and analyzed accordingly Findings of the study

revealed that supervisory and informal mentoring was practicalised in the selected HEIs

in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study further revealed a high level of satisfaction and

beneficial outcomes derived from mentoring practices across the selected HEIs.

However, mentoring practices in HEIs were faced with several institutional challenges

such as lack of training, lack of institutional support, lack of incentives and motivation on

the part of management, and lack of interest among others. Based on the findings of the

study on institutional challenges, policy recommendations were offered such as

institutionalizing formal mentoring, developing of mentoring policy, and others to aid the

successful implementation of mentoring practices in these institutions.