Administrative Challenges Facing Home Economics Departments in Federal Universities in North Central Nigeria

This study examines the administrative challenges confronting Home Economics departments in federal universities in North Central Nigeria, covering institutions in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states. Administrative challenges including inadequate staffing, funding shortfalls, and bureaucratic bottlenecks constrain the capacity of departments to deliver quality academic programmes. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive approach, targeting heads of department, senior lecturers, and administrative officers in six federal universities. Data were collected using structured interviews and document reviews of departmental reports and budgets. Objectives include identifying the primary administrative challenges experienced by departments, examining the consequences of these challenges for academic programme quality, and exploring management strategies employed to mitigate them. Recent literature from Nigerian federal universities documents persistent underfunding of humanities and vocational departments, exacerbating resource and staffing deficits in Home Economics programmes. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and content analysis. The Contingency Management Theory frames the study, recognising that effective administration requires adaptive responses to resource and environmental constraints. Findings are anticipated to reveal that funding inadequacy and staff shortages are the most debilitating administrative challenges. Recommendations address university governing councils, the National Universities Commission, and the Federal Ministry of Education regarding targeted departmental support for applied home sciences. Keywords: administrative challenges, Home Economics departments, federal universities, North Central Nigeria, departmental management.