The study investigated the influence of information literacy skills on effective research productivity of the entry level academics in federal universities in North Central, Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives and research questions respectively. It aims to identify the information literacy skills required by the entry level academics for effective research productivity and to determine the extent to which the information literacy of the entry level academics contributes to effective research productivity among them in the federal universities in North Central, Nigeria. The data relevant to the study was collected using questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean scores and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that information literacy skills required by the entry level academics are ICT skills, research skills, information handling skills and critical thinking skills. Information literacy was noted to contribute to great extent to the research productivity of the entry level academics mainly in conference papers and articles in learned journals. The study recommended that the management and stakeholders in federal universities should provide institutional support and mentorship to this category of academics in order to enhance their research productivity through acquisition of the essential information literacy skills.