Impact of Academic Conferences on Lecturers’ Job Performance in Federal Universities in North-Central Nigeria

Academic conferences constitute an important mechanism for professional development, knowledge exchange, research dissemination, networking and exposure to emerging developments within academic disciplines. For university lecturers, participation in conferences may contribute to improved teaching, research, publication, curriculum development, professional networking and community service. This study examined the impact of academic conference participation on lecturers’ job performance in Federal Universities in North-Central Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population comprised lecturers in Federal Universities in North-Central Nigeria. A sample of 384 lecturers was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Academic Conference Participation and Lecturers’ Job Performance Questionnaire (ACPLJPQ). The instrument was validated by experts in Educational Administration and Planning and Measurement and Evaluation, while its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The study found that conference participation enhanced lecturers’ knowledge of current developments in their disciplines, teaching skills, research competence, publication activities, professional networking and academic collaboration. The analysis further indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship between academic conference participation and lecturers’ job performance. The study concludes that academic conferences constitute an important component of academic staff development in Federal Universities in North-Central Nigeria. It recommends that university management and TETFund should increase transparent and equitable funding for conference participation, reduce bureaucratic delays in accessing conference grants, and establish mechanisms for lecturers to share knowledge gained from conferences with colleagues and students.