Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction Programmes in Nigerian Private Universities

This study assessed the design, delivery, and outcomes of information literacy instruction programmes in selected private universities in Nigeria. Private universities, which have grown rapidly over the past two decades, often have greater institutional flexibility to innovate in library services, yet comparatively little research exists on their instruction practices. A mixed-methods design was adopted: quantitative data were gathered from 600 undergraduate students who had participated in instruction programmes through structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were collected from instruction librarians through interviews. The study covered eight private universities across Lagos, Ogun, Edo, and Anambra States. Findings revealed significant variation in programme content, delivery mode, and integration with academic departments. Credit-bearing courses produced stronger outcomes in terms of student research skill development compared to one-off orientation sessions. Libraries that employed embedded librarianship models reported the highest levels of faculty collaboration. The study recommended that private universities standardise curricula based on established information literacy frameworks and adopt credit-bearing instructional models. Keywords: information literacy instruction, private universities, Nigeria, embedded librarianship, research skills.