INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERI

Abstract

This research aimed at investigating the influence of private-public partnerships on the development of higher education institutions through provision of infrastructure in Nigeria. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprises staff and students of all the three public tertiary institutions in Oya town. Random sampling technique was adopted to select 200 respondents. A self-constructed structured questionnaire tagged Public-Private Sector Contribution to Higher Education Questionnaire (PPCHEQ) that was validated through split-half reliability test at 0. 87was obtained. All data were analysed using frequency counts and chi-Square statistics at a=0.5. Findings revealed that the private sector plays a substantial role in advancing the infrastructure of the country's colleges and universities. Furthermore,finding showed that participation of private enterprises has a substantial influence on the advancement of infrastructure development in Nigeria's higher education institutions. It was revealed that the private sector has several challenges when it comes to its participation in the progress of Nigeria's higher education institutions. The difficulties include challenges such as lack of transparency, intense competition in the procurement process, delays in project timelines, political instability, corruption, and poor management ofproject stakeholders. Hence, it is advisable for Nigeria's higher institutions to strive.for worldwide eminence in terms of ranking. Prioritise the Critical Success Factors, which have the utmost signfficancefor both public and private entities engaged. The effective implementation qf infrastructure projects at Higher Institutions via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the attainment of the targeted objectives of the partnership arrangement depend on several pivotal variables.