Evaluation of Student Mentorship Programmes in Business Education Departments in Universities in Bauchi State

This study evaluated student mentorship programmes in Business Education departments in universities in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. Mentorship is a developmental relationship in which experienced professionals guide, support, and counsel less experienced individuals toward personal and professional growth. In Business Education, mentorship can help students navigate career choices, develop professional networks, and bridge the gap between academic training and workplace realities. However, the nature and effectiveness of mentorship programmes in Bauchi State universities have not been formally evaluated. A program evaluation design based on the CIPP Model, examining Context, Input, Process, and Product, was adopted. The population comprised 200 Business Education students and 30 academic staff involved in mentorship activities in two universities in Bauchi State. A sample of 100 students and all 30 staff were selected through stratified and purposive sampling respectively. Evaluation questionnaires for students and faculty mentors were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were employed. Findings reveal that mentorship programmes exist in both institutions but are informal, inconsistent, and largely underfunded. Students reported insufficient mentor-mentee contact hours and a lack of structured mentorship activities. The study recommends that university management in Bauchi State should formalize mentorship programmes with clear frameworks, provide financial support for mentorship activities, and train academic staff in effective mentoring practices to maximize the developmental impact on Business Education students. Keywords: mentorship programmes, business education, student development, universities, Bauchi State