Human Resource Management Challenges in the Igbo Language Departments of Nigerian Universities: A Survey of Seven Institutions

This study surveys human resource management challenges confronting Igbo language departments in seven Nigerian universities spread across four geopolitical zones, examining staff recruitment, retention, professional development, workload management, and succession planning. The health of Igbo language departments as academic institutions is directly contingent on the quality and continuity of their academic workforce, yet systematic human resource assessments of these departments have not been conducted at the scale this study undertakes. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews with department heads and senior faculty members at seven universities, supplemented by a self-administered staff experience questionnaire completed by ninety-two academic staff. Findings identify acute staff ageing as the most pressing challenge, with over sixty percent of academic staff across the sample being fifty years or older and succession pipelines inadequately developed. Recruitment of postdoctoral and junior academics is hampered by the perception of Igbo studies as a low-priority academic field among university administrations. Professional development funding is inconsistent across institutions. The study recommends targeted TETFUND Igbo academic development grants, intergenerational mentorship programmes within departments, and a national Igbo academic conference as a platform for scholarly community building. Keywords: human resource management, Igbo language departments, university, academic staffing, succession planning.