Rebuilding Ethical Leadership in African Universities

A Review of Some Principles of Staff Motivation

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to review the need for university leadership in universities in Africa to rethink the benefits of ethical leadership practices in relation to principles such as job satisfaction, job security, job performance, academic performance, and management of universities utilities. These principles are key to ethical leadership if put into practice by university management when dealing with teaching and nonteaching staff, as well as students. Faculty members are expected to be role models in an atmosphere of academic freedom which requires full commitment in teaching, research and community service. The paper argues that it is through realizing these principles that universities can promote appreciation of ethical values and sound moral judgment among staff in providing students with services. While acknowledging that ethical principles and values are critical in higher learning institutions, the paper reviews the challenges that interfere with ethical leadership practices and how to overcome them for purposes of achieving staff motivation and eventually academic excellence in universities in Africa.