Challenges of Mentoring Among University Academics in Nigeria

Abstract

Mentoring which is a process of tutoring a junior person in a workplace by a senior colleague is becoming more challenging especially in the university system. The objective of this study therefore is to provide empirical investigation in the Nigerian context on the challenges associated with mentoring for both the mentor and the protégé in the university system. The study employed a survey research design. The population consists of all academic staff in three randomly selected universities in Edo state namely:

Adoption Of Formalized Mentoring Among Academic Staff in Selected Nigerian Universities

“…The study suggests a motivating reward system for lecturers to engage in knowledge sharing. Idubor and Adekunle (2021) investigated the challenges confronting mentoring among Nigerian academics. The study provided empirical evidence on the challenges both senior and junior academics encountered in a mentoring relationship.…”

“…The notion of godfatherism is that an employee is under the protection and influence of a more powerful person with the aim of the junior employee getting benefits he may not ordinarily be entitled to, and for him to avoid punishment for infractions. Mentoring, however, is to ensure that the protégé acquires the requisite knowledge, experience and guidance to enable him to perform exceptionally on the job in particular and in life generally (Idubor & Adekunle, 2021). It is about getting the protégé to learn from the mentor what he may not ordinarily learn or for him to learn it faster and in greater depth.…”

“…Several studies have been conducted in Nigeria concerning the subject matter. The general approach of Nigerian studies has been to stress the importance, benefits and challenges of mentoring in the workplace as a way of enhancing employee performance, career growth, competencies, and even for succession planning and staff retention (Ekechukwu & Horsfall, 2015;Elegbuanya, 2012;Idubor & Adekunle, 2021;Omale et al 2017). While many studies done on mentoring in Nigerian universities have typically lauded the importance of mentoring and its benefits, few have investigated the actual practice of mentoring in Nigerian universities to see if there is a formal mentoring system in place (Okurame, 2008;Kolade, 2015;Sola, 2018).…”