EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC STAFF JOB EFFECTIVENESS IN UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between transformational leadership and academic staff job effectiveness in Universities in South-West Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the relationship between intellectual stimulation, idealized influence and academic staff job effectiveness. Guided by two null hypotheses, the study adopted a correlational design. The research was conducted across the five federal universities located in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. From a total population of 4,430 academic staff, 303 academic staff members was drawn as sample through accidental sampling technique. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Transformational Leadership and Academic Staff Job Effectiveness Questionnaire (TLASJEQ). The instrument was validated by experts and trial-tested for reliability, yielding Cronbach Alpha coefficients of .79 and.83. the hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). The result revealed a significant positive relationship between intellectual stimulation, idealized influence and academic staff job effectiveness. The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between transformational leadership and academic staff job effectiveness in federal universities in South-West Nigeria. It recommends that leaders in higher education institutions should exhibit idealized influence by serving as role models through integrity, commitment, and shared vision, as these traits have been shown to positively impact the job effectiveness of academic staff.