EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND GOAL ACTUALISATION IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES, SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between employee acknowledgment and goal actualization in Federal Universities in South East Nigeria. It specifically examined how performance feedback, and promotions influence various outcomes, which include quality service delivery, and employee motivation. Grounded in Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, which posits that motivation is driven by expected outcomes, the study employed a survey research design targeting a population of 25,031 academic and non-academic staff across five federal universities. Using Taro Yamane's formula, a sample of 394 respondents was determined, with data collected through a structured questionnaire. Analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression techniques. The findings revealed significant positive relationships: performance feedback was crucial for quality service delivery (R² = .242, p < .001). Promotions also had a positive effect on employee motivation (R² = .169, p < .001). The study concluded that effective employee acknowledgment mechanisms are essential for achieving organizational goals in Nigerian federal universities. The study recommended that school management needs to implement structured acknowledgment practices and foster a supportive environment to enhance employee engagement and institutional effectiveness.