Influence of Professional Development on Academic Leadership at the University of Lagos, Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to enhance the soft skills and leadership effectiveness of academic leaders and staff at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria. Training topics included weekly, three-hour virtual, interactive sessions conducted by expert faculty and practitioners in the areas of motivation, leadership mindset, team building, time management, human relations management, and performance evaluation. Anonymous surveys were conducted pre- and post-training delivery over six weeks. Survey results were categorized thematically using qualitative analysis. Results indicated 92% of attendees were positively influenced and highly motivated to work on self-improvement and team building in their leadership roles. Findings show participants felt highly motivated and encouraged to use newly acquired tools to enhance self-awareness, develop positive and growth mindsets, and improve teamwork. Although shared leadership was perceived as an interesting topic, future studies should explore cultural barriers to shared leadership and tailor LDP’s for better outcomes based on cultural values.