ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF TRIBALISM ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PURSUITS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF DELTA, AGBOR, (UNIDEL).
Abstract
This study examined the influence of tribalism on students’ academic pursuits in public universities in Delta State, using the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor as a case study. Guided by six research questions and four null hypotheses, the study adopted a correlational design. A purposive sample of 120 undergraduates was selected, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .742. Mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation were used for analysis at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that tribalism affects student union politics, leadership selection, lecturers’ mentorship, classroom participation, and access to academic opportunities, which in turn influence academic performance. Students adopted coping strategies, though university management showed limited effort in curbing discrimination. The study concludes that tribalism significantly impacts academic opportunities and performance and recommends inclusive policies, inter‑ethnic mentoring, and strict enforcement of anti‑discrimination measures.
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