Influence of Academic Activities on Research Productivity of University Lecturers in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the influence of academic activities on the research productivity of university lecturers in Kano State, Nigeria. A total of 346 copies of a questionnaire were administered to lecturers across selected universities, out of which 323 were duly completed and returned, representing a 93.4% response rate. The study adopted a survey research design and employed both descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. Findings revealed that heavy teaching workload (72%) and administrative responsibilities (70%) were major hindrances to research productivity, while student supervision (64%), participation in conferences and workshops (78%), and access to ICT and electronic resources (66%) served as facilitators. In terms of research output, 57.9% of lecturers published at least one journal article annually, though only 22% published three or more. Research grants remained a challenge, as only 15.2% had secured external funding, while 35.3% accessed institutional grants. Correlation analysis indicated a moderate positive relationship between academic activities and research productivity (r = 0.46, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further showed that facilitating factors significantly enhanced research productivity (β = 0.61, p < 0.001), while hindering factors reduced it (β = –0.43, p < 0.001). The model explained 38% of the variance in research productivity (R² = 0.38). The study concludes that academic activities play a dual role, simultaneously facilitating and constraining research productivity depending on institutional support. It recommends policies aimed at reducing excessive teaching and administrative loads while enhancing access to ICT, mentorship, and research funding.