INVENTORY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INFLUENCE INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN SOUTH-SOUTH, NIGERIA

This study investigates the influence of inventory management practices on the performance of public higher education institutions (HEIs) in South-South Nigeria. The study used a descriptive survey design to survey 185 inventory managers across 31 public higher education institutions in six South-South states of Nigeria. The sample consisted of 105 managers from Cross River, Edo, and Rivers, selected from three of the oldest established states. A questionnaire that was validated was used to collect data, which was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study rejected the null hypothesis of no significant influence of inventory management practices on the performance of public higher education institutions in South-South Nigeria. The findings showed that inventory management practices significantly influence institutional performance of public higher education institutions, enhancing operational efficiency, resource allocation, and service delivery while reducing operational costs. The study recommends adopting modern inventory management systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools, to streamline processes and minimise errors. Regular audits, staff training, and accountability measures should also be implemented to address inefficiencies. Establishing clear policies for inventory control, resource allocation, and shrinkage prevention will lead to sustainable improvements in HEI performance.