LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS AND EMERGENCIES TIMES IN AFRICA: A COMPELLING NEED FOR STRATEGIC AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP

Abstract

Africa and indeed Nigeria have a long and chequered history of crises and emergencies: ranging from diseases outbreaks, economic and political crisis to terrorism, arm conflicts, insurgency to banditry and kidnapping, ecological disaster and the perennial failures and unpreparedness in handling the crises and emergencies by African leaders. This paper examined the roles of African leaders in times of crisis and emergencies and highlight leadership competencies needed by Africa leaders to be effective in a global world of the 21st century characterised by rapid changes. To achieve these objectives, extensive literature review of leadership theories and case studies of experiences of international organisation across Africa – World Health Organisation in collaboration with Centre for diseases control in Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Guinea, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda were X-rayed. Findings from the literature reviewed and case studies confirmed the importance of strategic/adaptive leadership in times of crises and emergencies in Africa. Dearth of strategic/ adaptive leadership skills in managing change, crises and emergencies were reported as major challenges militating against crisis and disaster management among African leaders. Based on findings of this study, it is recommended that African leaders’ must as a matter of urgency builds capacity in the area of adaptive and strategic leadership for themselves and their policy formulators and implementers in government across at all levels of government.