Analysing the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Nigerian Human Resource Management Practices

Artificial intelligence applications in human resource management, including AI-assisted recruitment, performance analytics, and employee churn prediction, are gaining adoption globally, but the extent, drivers, and quality of AI adoption in Nigerian HR practice remains empirically underexamined. This study empirically analyses the adoption of AI tools in HR management practices across Nigerian private sector organisations. A structured survey was administered to 95 HR managers and directors at organisations in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano with more than 50 employees, spanning financial services, telecom, manufacturing, and retail sectors. AI adoption was assessed across six HR functions: recruitment screening, competency assessment, performance management, payroll analytics, retention prediction, and diversity monitoring. Technology Acceptance Model constructs were included to identify adoption predictors. Findings indicate that 47 percent of surveyed organisations use at least one AI-assisted HR tool, primarily in recruitment screening (34 percent) and performance dashboards (29 percent). Perceived usefulness (beta = 0.52, p < 0.001) and top management support (beta = 0.39, p < 0.001) are the strongest adoption predictors. Bias concerns in AI recruitment tools are raised by 61 percent of respondents, but fewer than 20 percent have conducted algorithmic audits of deployed tools. The study contributes empirical evidence on AI-HR adoption in Nigeria and recommends development of an AI HR Governance Standard by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. Keywords: artificial intelligence, human resource management, AI adoption, Nigeria, HR analytics