Leaders In Nigeria Research Articles

PROFESSIONAL NEEDS OF NIGERIAN TEACHERS

This study, designed to identify what needs teachers seek to satisfy in their work place, was carried out in Imo State of Nigeria. Data were collected by a Herzberg‐type interview. Teachers were found to be primarily concerned with adequate pay, occupational advancement, appreciation, personal comforts, security, leadership, achievement and opportunity for personal growth, in that order. It does not appear that these teachers are primarily maintenance‐seekers desiring lower order needs (Maslow) or hygiene factors (Herzberg). Intrinsic needs are rated much lower than extrinsic needs. This may have been conditioned by the Nigerian environment where basic social amenities like electricity, housing, water and transportation are still very inadequate. This study therefore gives an indication of what educational leaders in Nigeria can look into in developing motivational strategies for teachers.

Development, Underdevelopment and Poverty: A Linguistic Study of Joseph Edoki's The African Dream

Historically, European countries: Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, among others, partitioned Africa at the Berlin Conference of 1884/1885. They colonized the continent for over a century before the countries gained independence, resulting from protest led by educated Africans who saw how their European colonialists exploited and bastardized the socio-cultural values of Africans. The exploitation of Africa was so obvious that a Guyanese activist, Rodney Walter, wrote a text entitled How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (1972) to historically situate its massiveness and set an agenda for Africa's future. However, after independence, the expectation of most African countries have been dashed because of corrupt leadership, selfishness and lack of a philosophical focus, unlike the Asian Tigers such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Indian and South Korea which had their independence almost at the same time with many African countries. It is not surprising, therefore, that several coup de' tats have occurred in many African countries after independence and unbridled corruption, ethnic jingoism and selfishness have mainly been responsible for the underdevelopment, poverty and misery on the African continent. This unfortunate state of affairs has provoked African writers, who have written novels, plays and poems, to expose the moral decadence and corruption in African countries, with a view to refocus the development agenda for the common good of Africans. Among such works is, Joseph Edoki's The African Dream, which is pre-occupied with corruption and abuse of office by political leaders in Nigeria in particular and Africa generally. Employing content analysis and historical approach, this article examines how Edoki's text utilizes linguistic features to describe and expose some of the social vices plaguing Africa. Keywords: Africa, Development, Poverty, Socio-cultural structure, Politician, African society

Brinkmanship in Nigeria: The Federal Elections of 1964–65

Last New Year's Day, the Federation of Nigeria appeared on the point of constitutional chaos and national disintegration. The country's first federal election since Independence had ended disastrously. On the eve of the poll, the major alliance of southern parties, backed by the President and half the members of the Federal Electoral Commission, demanded a postponement of the voting as the only way to bring about a free and fair expression of opinion. When this request was refused, the southern politicians unwisely decided to boycott the election, and even sabotage it. The Eastern Region also talked dangerously of secession. Nevertheless the Northern Peoples Congress and its allies still managed to win a majority of seats. The President, now in open disagreement with the Prime Minister, then threatened to resign in protest rather than carry out his constitutional duty to invite the NPC federal leader to form a government. At this point, Nigeria tottered perilously on the brink of disintegration and bloodshed. In the emotionally-charged atmosphere that prevailed, one unfortunate incident a particularly ugly street clash, the personal humiliation of a prominent politician, or an inflamatory and intransigent appeal from one of the parties might easily have rendered the situation beyond control. Yet, having peered over the precipice, Nigeria's leaders pulled back at what seemed the last possible moment, and the unity of the country was preserved. This article attempts to analyze the underlying causes of this crisis of conscience, to determine what actually happened during the twelve troubled days (December 24th to January 4th), and to assess the significance of these events for the future stability, freedom and progress of the Federation. It is also hoped that Nigeria's traumatic experience might afford a