Page 1 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 86
Effect of Leadership Style on the Management of Conflict in
Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife of South-Western Nigeria
AJAYI Adeola1& OLAIYA Taiwo Akanbi PhD2
Department of Public Administration Obafemi Awolowo UniversityIle-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
ajayifunso4christ@gmail.com
Abstract
The study assessed the effect of leadership
style on the management of conflict in
Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife of
South-Western Nigeria with a view to
identifying the causes of conflict and
leadership styles for handling conflict in
Nigerian universities. This was necessitated
by the need to have functional leadership
traits on the management of conflict in
Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife of
South-western Nigeria in particular and
Nigerian Universities in general.
Both primary and secondary sources of data
were utilized for the study. The Primary
sources of data were collected through
questionnaires and personal interview.
Secondary sources of data were collected
from relevant journals, books, internet
sources and lecture notes delivered on the
field conflict management.
Two former vice chancellors were examined
as regards the problem of perennial crisis in
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Respondents were asked to rate the two
former vice chancellors using their
organisational competence, leadership style
and positive relation with staff and students
as rating criteria. The questionnaires were
analysed using descriptive analysis such as
scores and percentage.
The study discovered evidences of
mismanagement of conflict which made most
conflicts in the universities violent. It
observed that most conflicts in Nigerian
universities might have been averted if the
leadership in Nigerian universities could be
more democratic, sensitive, and flexible in
conflict periods.
The study concluded that the welfare of staff
and students should be given more attention
if perennial conflicts with school
management are to be overcome in Nigerian
universities.
Keywords: Conflict Management, Crisis
Resolution, Leadership Traits, Styles.
Introduction
Background to the Study
Conflict functions where there are two or
more persons in a group and where the
managers have to deal with people lives, ego
and sense of mission or purpose. No human
organization is immuned to conflicts.
Nigerian universities as a social organization
do experience conflicts between different
unions within its jurisdiction. Conflict is
therefore an inevitable phenomenon in any
organization (Adebayo, 2009).
Recent social-political uncertainties coupled
with the typical institutional problems in
Nigeria as a whole have been the bane of the
Page 2 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 87
crises in the Nigeria Universities. Evidences
abound to show that since the advent of
military government in Nigeria in January,
1966 there have been series of
disagreements between the government and
the university management owing largely
subtle incursion into the autonomy of the
latter by the former. (Olaiya, 2000).
In the foregoing, the universities have
continued to exist and operate under a lot of
restrictions and encroachments from the
state which in turn form the bedrock of the
mounting conflict in most Nigerian
universities.
Similarly, these various crises often centre
on the issue of deprivation of rights and the
neglect of staff and student welfare among
others (Olaiya, ibid).
Therefore, this study assessed the effect of
leadership style on the management of
conflict in Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife of South-Western Nigeria
Statement of the Problem
Conflict which degenerate into violence in
most cases have become regular features
between staffs, students and management in
Nigerian universities.
Going dawn the memory lane, one observes
that almost all universities in Nigeria
witnessed unrest at one time or the other.
Since 1948, when the premier university
(now University of Ibadan) was established
problem of violent protests have been
assuming a spiralling increase (Olaiya, ibid)
Madunagu (1980) listed twenty-one major
students’ crises in Nigeria between 1948 and
1979.
Several others have been taken place since
1979 and the latest of which was the
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) crisis
in 2013 to early 2014.
A number of steps had been taken by these
vice chancellors to reduce the frequency of
conflicts in Nigerian Universities. Some
employed democratic leadership style, some
employed laissez-faire leadership style and
others autocratic leadership style.
It is against these background problems that
this study sets out to assess the effect of
leadership style on the management of
conflict in Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife of South-western Nigeria.
Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study are to
i. assess the effect of leadership on
the management of conflict in
Obafemi Awolowo
University Ile-Ife of South- western Nigeria.
ii. identify the causes of conflict in
Nigerian universities.
iii. examine the leadership style for
handling conflict in Nigerian
universities; and
iv. proffer solutions to ameliorating
the incidence of conflicts in
Nigerian Universities.
Significance of the study
The study is significant because it will guide
the government in policy decision regarding
conflict management and resolution in
Nigerian Universities. The university
governing council and administration is
expected to benefit immensely from the
findings of the study as they will be afforded
a better understanding of the enabling
factors of conflict in their universities and
Page 3 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 88
integrate these towards the formulation of
policies of conflict resolution.
Moreover, this study will contribute very
useful contribution to modern literature on
higher education administration, university
leadership and conflict management
analysis.
Literature Review
Conflict is a natural phenomenon and its
occurrence in communities where human
beings exist is inevitable. Conflict is also an
inherent feature that cannot be underrated in
every organization. This is because it can
make or mar the survival, growth and
progress of an organization (Adegoroye,
2004).
Coser (1964) defined conflict as a struggle
over values and claims to scarce resources,
power and status in which the aims of
opponents are to neutralize, injure or
eliminate rivals.
In this vein, conflict has been further
described as phenomenon of opposition,
disagreement or a struggle between people
with different ideas or belief. A general form
of conflict can also be seen as arising from
disputes or disagreement or contest over
limited resources or interests, which are
dissappropriately distributed or served; or as
struggle for self-recognition, emancipation
and autonomy and such other cases that
could be set the interests of an individual or
group of individuals against each other cases
that could set the interest of an individual or
group of individuals against each other
(Olaiya, ibid).
Sanda (1991) asserted that conflict has been
seen in the most extreme terms of “acute
stress” anxiety or chronic tension or “death
for a diseased person, social system or
historical process. He also stressed that
crisis management in universities demands
appropriate leadership style of the school
administrator or chief executive.
Bloisi (2007) opined that conflict is a
disagreement between two or more parties
who perceive that they have incompatible
concerns. To him, individuals, groups,
departments, organizations, countries etc. do
experience conflict whenever an action by
one party is perceived as preventing or
interfering with the goals, needs or actions
of another.
Hiss (1992) contended that conflict, like sex,
is an essential creative element in human
relationships. It is the means to a change, the
means by which our social values of
welfare, security, justice and opportunity for
personal development can be achieved.
Conflicts in the Nigerian Universities
Conflicts have made management of
universities in Nigeria to be the spotlight
throughout the country. Universities
conflicts in Nigeria are a phenomenon of
great concern. The chaotic situation has
undermined many programmes aimed at
enhancing the impartation of knowledge and
skills in the future human resources for the
country (Fatile and Adejuwon, 2011).
Adeyemi et al. (2010) observed that crisis is
becoming more rampant in the universities
and the resultant consequence has been to
the detriment of the administration, teaching
– learning atmosphere.
Gboyega (1997) agreed that crisis continues
to escalate in the university due to
government and institutional authorities’
management inefficiency. He argued further
