Knowledge Sharing Practices and Institutional Learning in Selected State Civil Services in the South West

This study examines knowledge sharing practices and their contribution to institutional learning in selected state civil services in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone, covering Lagos, Ogun, and Osun States. Institutional learning, the process by which organisations systematically capture, distribute, and apply knowledge generated from experience, is critical to the adaptive capacity of public sector institutions. Using a professional application design, the study targets senior administrative officers, knowledge management champions, and heads of human resource development in selected ministries. Data collection instruments include structured questionnaires, knowledge audit tools, and focus group discussion guides. The Nonaka-Takeuchi Knowledge Creation Model and the Organisational Learning Theory provide the theoretical framework, supported by literature from 2020 to 2024 on knowledge management in Nigerian public administration. Dimensions examined include knowledge documentation culture, peer learning mechanisms, inter-departmental knowledge exchange systems, and leadership support for learning-oriented practices. The study also assesses the impact of staff rotation and retirement on institutional knowledge continuity. Recommendations target state heads of service and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Keywords: knowledge sharing, institutional learning, civil service, South West Nigeria, knowledge management