Provitamin A quality protein maize (PVA-QPM) is crucial for preventing vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition, widespread public health challenges a public health issue affecting millions, especially children and pregnant women in developing countries. Knowledge of the relationships between maize grain yield, carotenoid levels and quality protein, with their underlying genetic factors, is necessary for developing successful selection strategies for better maize cultivars. The study evaluated the genetic associations and factors optimizing grain yield, carotenoid profiles, and protein quality among newly developed early-maturing, high-performing PVA-QPM inbred lines. Two growing of testing were conducted on ten early PVA-QPM inbreds and two commercial maize hybrid controls under rainfed conditions at the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. All nutritional traits an...