TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP APPROACH AS A RESPONSE TO TRIBAL DISCRIMINATION IN A MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The challenge of tribal discrimination in a multicultural society remains one of the hindrances militating against mutual coexistence, harmony, growth, and development of multicultural societies. It has become an ethical concern due to its adverse effects on the total wellbeing of individuals and society. This unfair treatment or discriminatory acts to individuals often manifest in the denial of rights and privileges of persons or groups who might belong to the minority tribes, which in turn threatens the common existence and total wellbeing of the citizens. The study adopts literary research designed to explore the utilization of transformational leadership approach in curbing the menace of tribal discrimination in multicultural societies.  The study utilised existing literatures as primiary source of information. Challenges associated with tribal discrimination as identified in the study include the marginalization of non-majority groups, promotion of disunity among members of a given society, ineffective leadership and governance, and hindrance to progress, among others. The deployment of transformational leadership could be a suitable approach in addressing the challenge of tribal discrimination against individuals and groups in society. Engaging this approach would enable leaders to model attributes of love, unity, justice, and fairness in governing the people. Therefore the study recommends that Nigerian leaders should avoid being tribalistic while discharging their leadership responsibilities, but rather view themselves as representatives of all Nigerian citizens and the nation. Leaders should be transformational in their approach in a quest to transform the societies, and also be intentional in treating citizens with fairness.