Kuforiji Aramide Arinola

Oikhala Gabriel Izokpu

Abstract

Change initiatives in Nigerian higher education institutions continue to encounter implementation challenges arising from both human and structural factors. Persistent funding constraints, infrastructural deficits, and staff related responses such as resistance and low motivation have weakened the effectiveness of recent policy reforms. This study examines the influence of resistance to change, staff motivation, and institutional barriers on policy change adoption among academic staff in selected public universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross sectional survey design was employed, drawing data from 200 lecturers across three public universities in Ogun State. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression to assess the relationships among human factors, structural barriers, and change adoption. The results reveal moderate resistance to change and relatively low motivation among academic staff. Funding and infrastructural limitations emerged as the most significant institutional barriers and were strongly associated with resistance. Motivation and resistance jointly explained a substantial proportion of the variance in change adoption, with motivation exerting a stronger positive influence on reform uptake. The study recommends the adoption of motivation driven change strategies, participatory governance structures, and sustained investment in educational infrastructure. Strengthening leadership commitment and aligning reform processes with staff professional needs are critical to improving policy change implementation and performance outcomes in Nigerian higher education institutions.

   

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Published: 2026

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