ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP PRACTICES IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

This study focused on evaluating the academic leadership practices within public universities in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria. Its primary objective was to identify the different types of academic leadership practices prevalent in these states. The research design employed was ex post facto, with a target population of 1,957 junior academics. A sample of 375 junior academics was selected using the simple random sampling technique, and data collection relied on a questionnaire. The analysis was carried out using mean and standard deviation, with a benchmark set at 2.50 for acceptability. The results of the analysis unveiled the existence of five distinct forms of academic leadership practices among academic leaders in federal and state universities in Delta and Edo States. These five forms included: stirring common academic vision leadership practice (SCAVLP), promotion of academic relationship leadership practice (PARLP), provision of academic feedback leadership practice (PAFLP), encouraging academic advancement leadership practice (EAALP), and academic mentorship leadership practice (AMLP). Among these, academic mentorship was found to be the least commonly observed form of academic leadership practice among the five identified in the study. In light of these findings, the study recommends that university management should initiate a mentorship program to educate all staff on the principles and concepts of mentorship. Additionally, junior academics should be formally assigned to senior academics for mentorship purposes.