An investigation of campuses’ sustainability practices in Nigerian higher education institutions

Purpose This study aims to dive into the unique context of Nigerian universities, exploring their roles in terms of campus sustainability practices and the challenges they face while implementing sustainability initiatives. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates sustainability practices through in-depth interviews with higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries. Experts from eight different government-owned universities in the Southwestern region of Nigeria participated in this study through a purposive sampling technique. The study leveraged the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System framework to determine potential sustainability management indicators tailored to the Nigerian context. Findings The findings reveal a limited degree of engagement and implementation and show that HEIs adopt a wide range of sustainability approaches. Hence, underlying the necessity for concerted efforts to enhance sustainability initiatives in Nigerian HEIs. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have investigated Campuses’ Sustainability Practices in Nigerian HEIs. This study contributes to the body of literature by clarifying the challenges faced by Nigerian HEIs as their comprehension of sustainability practices widens, which has gotten little attention in previous literature.