Abstract

The study identified the motivational needs of early career agriculture lecturers in Rivers and Imo States of Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the socio-economic characteristics of early career agriculture lecturers, identified their motivational needs and determined the relationship between their motivational needs and their socio-economic characteristics. Fifty-two respondents were selected for the study using Multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive (mean, frequency, percentages) and inferential statistical tools (Ordinary Least Square regression analysis). Results showed that majority (67.3%) of early career agriculture lecturers were male, 55.8% fell between the ages of 31-40 years, 54.4% had B.SC and M.SC as their highest educational qualification while 30.8% had teaching experience of 3 to 4 years. Happiness in their personal life (M=3.60), good performance of students in courses taught (M=3.40), promotion and opportunity for growth in the organisation (M=3.35) and effective mentorship by senior colleagues (M=3.25) were found to be the major motivational needs of the agriculture lecturers in the study area. The result of the Ordinary Least Square regression analysis showed that relationship exist between the motivational needs of early career agriculture lecturers and their socio- economic characteristics. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that Federal government in conjunction with other stakeholders in the educational sector should factor out ways of instituting effective incentives that will motivate the lecturers into better performance of their job. Also, the university management should put in place structures that will boost good mentorship system in the universities.

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