Academic Staff Development and Staff Performance in Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria (2018 – 2023)

This study focused on academic staff development and staff performance in Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria, 2018 – 2023. The problem of poor job performance among the academic staff of Imo State University has become a source of concern to the Institution, the state government, and the broader society. The broad objective of the study was to explain how staff development problems affect the performance of academic staff at Imo State University during the period under review. The hypotheses included, among others, that paucity of funds and a skills gap were possible challenges to staff development at Imo State University, Owerri. The theoretical framework adopted in this study was the organisation’s education and training theory, propounded by Argyris & Schon in 1978. The theory is rooted in the assumption that education, training and development are associated with effective planning, problem-solving and experimentation. The sources of data were primary and secondary, which consisted of official records from the University, TETfund, journals and textbooks. The analytical tool was qualitative content analysis. The study found that measures adopted by Imo State University in its staff development programme had a positive effect on the work behaviour of most academic staff and therefore significantly improved their performance. The study, therefore, recommended the introduction of compulsory attendance to international conferences, symposia and workshops, since lecturers’ performances are usually enhanced by such training. Also, Professors and senior lecturers should be encouraged to take sabbatical leave as a way of developing and improving their welfare, as this would motivate them to put in more effort in teaching, research and community development, which are the core mandates of the academic profession.