Assessing the Effect of Strategic Positioning on Institutional Competitiveness of Selected Private Universities in Southwest Nigeria

This study examined the effect of strategic positioning on institutional competitiveness among selected private universities in Southwest Nigeria. An observational cross-sectional research design based on secondary institutional data was adopted. The population comprised 53 accredited private universities in Southwest Nigeria, but limited to 25 private universities with publicly accessible institutional disclosures, and a census approach was employed. Data were extracted from official university websites, National Universities Commission records, ranking platforms, and other publicly available institutional sources using a researcher-developed coding framework. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Given the census of 25 institutions and the associated statistical-power constraint, the regression results were interpreted as exploratory evidence within the defined study population. Robust HC3 standard errors were also employed as a sensitivity check, with no substantive changes in the decisions regarding the hypotheses. The findings indicated that strategic positioning significantly influences institutional competitiveness, with the dimensions collectively accounting for a substantial proportion of the variation in competitiveness among the universities studied. Specifically, programme differentiation and brand/reputation positioning exerted positive and statistically significant effects on institutional competitiveness, suggesting that universities with distinctive academic offerings, stronger reputational capital, and enhanced institutional visibility are more likely to achieve superior competitive outcomes. Conversely, infrastructure positioning and digital/innovation positioning, although positively associated with institutional competitiveness, did not demonstrate statistically significant effects in the regression model. The study concludes that strategic positioning is an important determinant of institutional competitiveness, with programme differentiation and brand/reputation positioning emerging as the most influential strategic drivers. Private universities should therefore prioritize programme diversification and institutional branding to strengthen their competitive standing.