Abstract

This study examined the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and academic administration efficiency in higher education institutions in Nigeria. Anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model and the Resource-Based View, the study adopted a descriptive survey design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 384 administrative staff and academic officers drawn from twelve federal, state and private universities across the six geopolitical zones, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression at the 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that AI tools such as chatbots, predictive analytics, robotic process automation and intelligent records systems are moderately deployed, with result processing (68.2%) and student records (61.4%) recording the highest usage. AI adoption showed a strong, positive and significant relationship with administrative efficiency (r = 0.71, p < 0.05), and jointly the AI dimensions explained 58.6% of the variance in efficiency (R² = 0.586, F = 42.17, p < 0.05). Inadequate funding, poor infrastructure and low digital skills emerged as the dominant barriers. The study concluded that AI meaningfully improves administrative turnaround, cost efficiency and service quality, and recommended sustained funding, staff capacity development and a coherent national policy framework for AI integration