Workplace Diversity and Employees’ Performance in Selected Federal Universities in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

The study is on workplace diversity on employees’ performance in selected Federal universities in South-east Nigeria. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaire made up of a sample population of 1,756 from the selected Federal Universities (1,252 for University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), 373 for Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) and 229 for Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI) respectively). The study used descriptive statistics and linear regression to analyse data obtained. It was found that ethnicity/state of origin of respondents had significant effect on employees’ performance. Also, the findings went further to reveal that surveyed employees who were of Igbo ethnic group statistically performed significantly higher than those from other ethnic groups. However, religion did not show any significant effect on employees’ performance. It is recommended that the selected Federal universities (UNN, MOUAU and AEFUNAI) should create room for a more inclusive recruitment policy which incorporates more ethnic groups and states in the scheme of things in order to trap innovative and creative ideas from them.