Digital Leadership Transformation and Workforce Agility of Manufacturing Firms in South-South, Nigeria

This study investigates the relationship between digital leadership transformation and workforce agility among manufacturing firms in South-South, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional research design and quantitative methodological approach, data were collected from 324 respondents across 54 manufacturing firms through structured questionnaires. The study focused on two key indicators of digital leadership transformation—strategic alignment and digital talent capabilities—and their influence on workforce adaptability. Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation was employed to test the research hypotheses. Results revealed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between strategic alignment and adaptability (Spearman’s rho = 0.833, p < 0.01), as well as between digital talent capabilities and adaptability (Spearman’s rho = 0.784, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that aligning organizational strategies and investing in digital skills are critical to enhancing workforce agility. The study concludes that digital leadership transformation plays a pivotal role in improving organizational responsiveness, and recommends strategic integration and digital competency development for sustained adaptability and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.