CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

This study assessed the condition of physical facilities and maintenance practices adopted for their upkeep in private universities in South West Nigeria, with particular attention to the extent to which institutions rely on in house and outsourced arrangements for facility management. Anchored on Systems Theory, the study adopted an exploratory survey research design. Data were collected from staff and students of five purposively selected private universities: Bowen University, Covenant University, Babcock University, Caleb University and Trinity University. A structured questionnaire was administered to proportionately a allocated sample of 346 respondents, of which 270 were validly completed and returned, representing a 78.0% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation and percentages, as well as inferential statistics comprising correlation and simple linear regression at the 5% level of significance. The had a weak but statistically significant positive influence findings revealed that physical facilities across the sampled universities were generally rated as being in fair condition. Buildings structures, and power supply infrastructure, and water and sanitation systems identified were as the facility components requiring the greatest maintenance attention. preventive Scheduled maintenance, regular inspection, and a combination of in-house and outsourced service delivery emerged as the dominant maintenance strategies. Regression analysis further showed that facility condition on students’ academic performance (r = 0.267, R² = 0.072, p < 0.05). The study concludes that facilities in although the sampled private universities remain in fair condition, deliberate, structured and adequately funded maintenance practices are essential for asset preservation and a conducive teaching-learning environment. It recommends institutionalising planned preventive maintenance regimes and periodic facility condition audits.