Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Emotional Intelligence has emerged as a critical factor shaping interpersonal relationships across organizations operating in and around Selected Public Universities in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how emotional intelligence relates to interpersonal relationships has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Selected Public Universities in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on emotional intelligence, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with interpersonal relationships, particularly within Selected Public Universities in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about emotional intelligence without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect interpersonal relationships. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Emotional Intelligence on interpersonal relationships in Selected Public Universities in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which emotional intelligence influences interpersonal relationships within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with emotional intelligence in relation to interpersonal relationships.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing emotional intelligence in order to improve interpersonal relationships.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of emotional intelligence on interpersonal relationships in Selected Public Universities in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does emotional intelligence influence interpersonal relationships within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with emotional intelligence in relation to interpersonal relationships?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize emotional intelligence in order to improve interpersonal relationships?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of psychology, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Public Universities in Nigeria seeking to understand how emotional intelligence translates into measurable outcomes around interpersonal relationships. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Emotional Intelligence and its relationship with interpersonal relationships within the context of Selected Public Universities in Nigeria. It reflects a MSc-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.