The Role of Nigeria's Education in Developing Future Leaders: Current Challenges and Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v4i7.2390Keywords:
Education, Future Leaders, Leadership, Development, OrganizationAbstract
In Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, education plays a significant role in shaping future leaders. Education not only provides the necessary knowledge and skills but also shapes attitudes and values that are critical for leadership. Despite the significant role education is meant to play in cultivating future leaders, the ongoing leadership crisis in Nigeria has raised doubts about the effectiveness of education in fulfilling this role. Persistent issues such as widespread corruption, the politicization of the education sector, lack of motivation among teachers, and infrastructural decay have created significant roadblocks in the path to developing future leaders capable of driving Nigeria's growth and development. It is against this backdrop that this study was undertaken to examine the role of Nigeria's educational sector in developing future leaders: Current challenges and prospects. The study reviewed relevant literature in line with education and leadership. The study was anchored on the Human Capital Theory while qualitative research design was adopted for the study. Data were sourced from the secondary sources such as textbooks, newspapers, government publication and other allies’ material. The study noted that despite the importance of education in leadership development, the sector is burdened by infrastructural deficits, inadequate funding, and issues with the quality and relevance of education. To maximize the role of education in leadership development, strategies involving curriculum reform, pedagogical innovation, character education, experiential learning, and stakeholder engagement are proposed. With these strategies, Nigeria's educational sector can overcome existing challenges and effectively nurture competent and ethical leaders, instrumental in steering the country towards prosperity.
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