Digital Leadership Transformation and Organizational Resilience in the Manufacturing Companies in South-South Region of Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between digital leadership transformation and organisational resilience in manufacturing firms located in the South-South region of Nigeria. Faced with economic instability, technological disruption, and global competition, many of these firms struggle with outdated leadership models and poor adaptability. The study specifically investigates the relationship between a digital-first mindset and two key measures of organisational resilience, such as proactivity and adaptability. Adopting a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data was collected from 179 managers across 54 manufacturing firms using structured questionnaires. Analysis using Spearman’s rho revealed a strong, significant positive correlation between a digital-first mindset and both proactivity and adaptability. The findings indicate that digital leadership transformation significantly enhances an ability to foresee challenges, take initiative, and adjust rapidly to changing conditions. The study concludes that embedding a digital-first mindset within leadership and operational practices strengthens resilience and long-term sustainability. It recommends that firms invest in digital leadership development, adopt advanced digital technologies, and promote agile, cross-functional collaboration to remain competitive in a dynamic business landscape.