Abstract:
The research work examined the influence of information literacy competencies on academic productivity among the academic staff in Nigerian universities in North Central Geopolitical zone. In this contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources there is need for a complementary cluster of abilities necessary to use information effectively, especially for research. In carrying out this study two instruments were used to collect data; first was a standard information literacy competency test which elicited information on what constituted information literacy and second, an academic productivity index which elicited information on what constituted academic productivity. The study adopted a correlation survey design to instigate the relationship between information literacy and academic productivity. The population of the study comprised of all the academic staff in the 12 universities from North Central geo-political zone. A total of 421 academic staff were involved as sample for this study. The sample was composed through a multi-stage sampling technique using proportionate stratified random sampling.. The data collected were analysed with the use of descriptive statistics (frequency count mean score and percentage), standard deviation, Pearson Correlation, one way ANOVA and stepwise t-test. The Findings revealed that the largest percentage (56.4%) of the academic staff of the universities understudy, possessed low level of information literacy competency. It also showed that the respondents have very low level of academic productivity, as indicated by 64.3% of the respondents. Findings also revealed that Professor has the highest mean of (56.58) and standard deviation of (11.68) and they can be said to possess more information literacy competency. It also showed Associate Professor has the highest mean of (93.83) and standard deviation of (27.46) and they can be said to have best productivity. On the influence of information literacy competency on academic productivity, the findings of the study revealed that there is a positive relationship between information literacy and academic productivity. The implications of the findings for the government, the university administration, Departments of Library and information Sciences, the academic staff and students and the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) have been highlighted. Based of the findings a number of recommendations were made. These include the need for government to show more political will by increasing the financial resources available to the universities in the area of book and ICT facilities acquisition and journal subscription, establish and maintain information resource centers. On the part of the universities it is recommended that they should influence policies and provide enabling environment, integrate information literacy course into the school curriculum and provide necessary resources needed for learning.
