Leadership Education through Extracurricular Activities in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

The intendment of this paper was to explore the concept of leadership education and the role extracurricular activities can play in getting the youths imbued with leadership qualities. The paper was necessitated by the unending call for quality leadership in our private and public national life, and the search for alternative media for imparting leadership education to the youths. The paper advocates extracurricular activities as platforms for inculcating leadership education in the youths. The concept of extracurricular activities and its importance as complementary avenue for imparting leadership values, skills and dispositions is discussed. Political, cultural, economic, social, and sporting activities are identified as extracurricular activities frequently participated in by youths in tertiary institutions. These activities enhance intellectual development, as well as the development of personal and interpersonal skills that enhance effectual leadership. The paper posits that extracurricular activities are veritable media for inculcating in the youths, leadership skills and dispositions; and equipping them with the necessary competence, and also prepare them for their future leadership roles.