THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Abstract: Human resource management plays a critical role in enhancing organizational performance and supporting national development, particularly in developing economies such as Nigeria. This study examined the role of human resource management in the national development of Nigeria, with specific focus on the hospitality sector. The study investigated how key human resource management practices, training and development, talent management, and service quality improvement contribute to national development measured through employment generation. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to employees of selected hospitality firms. A total of 291 valid responses were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS version 30. The descriptive results indicated that organizations actively implement training and development programs and talent management strategies aimed at improving employee performance and service delivery. The regression analysis further revealed that training and development and talent management have positive and statistically significant effects on national development through employment generation. Talent management was found to have the strongest influence on employment generation among the variables examined. However, service quality improvement showed a significant but negative relationship with employment generation, suggesting that improvements in service delivery may sometimes be achieved through efficiency measures rather than workforce expansion. The findings highlight the importance of strategic human resource management practices in enhancing workforce productivity, improving service delivery, and supporting employment creation. The study concludes that effective human resource management practices are essential for promoting sustainable national development in Nigeria. It recommends that organizations and policymakers strengthen investments in human capital development, talent retention strategies, and workforce training programs to enhance national economic growth.