Al-Hikmah University Journal

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.