LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AMONG STUDENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper accentuated the importance of leadership skills development among students of Nigeria high schools.  The rampancy of the heinous development of cultism and other dreadful delinquencies among youths nowadays was attributed to lack of leadership skills.  Since the high school students form a class of citizen depended upon today for national development tomorrow, developing leadership skills in them is therefore a sine qua non.  It was opined that all forms of leadership styles, including autocratic leadership style being portrayed by bullies in schools, can be developed to a kind that will transform the students into effective leaders in the future.  Eight leadership skills were identified, which included flexibility in thought and action; verbal expression skill; the desire to be challenged; the ability to reason critically; to solve problems creatively; to tolerate ambiguity; to see new relationships; and to motivate others.  In other to inculcate these skills, some strategies were formulated.  Also, to test the effectiveness of leadership skills so developed, some expected/possible outcomes of leadership skills development were listed.  It was finally recommended, among others, that leadership curriculum should be developed for high schools and that teaching and learning of history in high schools should be reconsidered as this would help students to explore the stories of past leaders and develop leadership skills thereby.