GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

We conducted this study to investigate the efficacy of strategic management in addressing environmental uncertainties and challenges in tertiary education management in Nigeria. The population of the study was 311 managerial staff sourced from selected tertiary institutions in the South South Zone of Nigeria, while its sample size was 128. The survey research design was adopted with a questionnaire as the primary instrument used in data collection. Data analysis was done with both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings of the study indicated that there was a low utilisation of strategic management in educational management in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The result also indicated that an effective application of strategic management was capable of assisting in addressing environmental uncertainties and challenges in tertiary educational management in Nigeria. The study recorded an adjusted R2 = 0.717. It was concluded that strategic management can address uncertainties and challenges in tertiary educational management in Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria should step up the use of strategic management in line with global best practices in the education sector; it was recommended that owing to unending environmental uncertainties experienced in the tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria, managers/administrators of these institutions should effectively utilize strategic management in order to address such uncertainties and challenges, hence place them in good stead toward improved education service delivery and that tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria should prioritize the training of its managers and administrators on strategic management practices and principles applicable to the tertiary education system.

Keywords: Environmental Uncertainties and Challenges, Tertiary Education, Management, Tertiary Institutions,  Strategic Management, Nigeria