EFFECT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON SUCCESSION PLANNING AT ADAMA BEVERAGES LIMITED, YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

This study examined the effect of professional development on succession planning in Adama Beverages Limited, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of career development, skill development, and values development on succession planning. Anchored on Human Capital Theory, the study adopted a survey research design. The population comprised 420 employees, from which a sample size of 205 was determined using Yamane’s (1967) formula. A total of 201 questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression through SPSS version 26. The findings revealed that career development had a significant positive effect on succession planning (β = 0.341, t = 5.11, p < 0.001). Skill development also significantly influenced succession planning (β = 0.309, t = 5.26, p < 0.001), while values development showed a significant positive effect on succession planning (β = 0.323, t = 5.23, p < 0.001). The regression model explained 61.1% of the variation in succession planning (R² = 0.611), and the overall model was statistically significant (F = 103.72, p < 0.001). The study concluded that professional development significantly enhances succession planning effectiveness. It recommended strengthening career growth opportunities, continuous employee training, and value-based development programs to ensure sustainable leadership succession.