Leadership Models in Kierkegaardian and Kohlbergian Stages of Human Existence: Implications for African Leaders

Authors

  • Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu, PhD Madonna University, Nigeria Autor/in
  • Princewill Iheanyi Alozie, PhD Madonna University, Nigeria Autor/in
  • Paschal Onyi Oguno Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria Autor/in

Keywords:

Leadership, leadership models, existential stages, human existence, African leaders, values

Abstract

Leadership has been a teething problem especially in Africa. Bad governance steadily clogs the wheel of development in African nations and jeopardizes the life of the citizens. This paper critically examines the Kierkegaardian and Kohlbergian stages of human existence as it extracts the leadership models inherent in them and their implications for African leaders regarding values in governance using expository, analytical and comparative methods. Kierkegaard’s stages of existence present 
pathways to authentic existence (realization of true self) and Kohlberg’s moral developmental stages highlight the advancement of reasoning and formation of conscience that guide individuals’ activities as they mature in life. The comparison of both stage theories revealed significant similarities that led to their combination as 2K (Kierkegaard and Kohlberg) leadership models where three major forms of leadership, namely; pleasurable, responsible and altruistic or self-sacrificing leadership patterns can be seen. The paper noted that these leadership positions have obvious implications for governance in Africa. The result of the investigation reveals that most African leaders are still at the very first stages of the 2K leadership models- the pleasurable leadership style (the childhood stage of leadership) where they immerse themselves in self-aggrandizement, pleasures and self-centredness in fulfilment of their physiological and social needs. The paper recommends that to make responsible and altruistic leaders (servant-leaders), serious education of the mind and conscientization of citizens are required. This takes effect from the cradle of life (catch them young) where the conscience is quite malleable as earlier mandated by UNESCO and proposed by Association of Professional Philosophers of Nigeria (APPON) and some legal and humanity schools that promote education of leaders for quality leadership.

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Author Biographies

  • Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu, PhD, Madonna University, Nigeria

    Sr. Prof. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu, PhD is a member of Sisters of Jesus the Saviour, Nigeria. She is a professor of Existential Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy in Madonna University, Nigeria. She is also an adjunct staff in Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu in Nigeria. She holds her PhD in Philosophy and MSc in Psychology. Her passion to understand the meaning of life made her to venture into existential philosophy and developmental psychology. These vested interests in philosophy and human development motivated her always anew to search for and highlight the concrete meaning of human existence. These too prove her strong quest for logotherapy and engagement in concrete existential issues of all that lead to her authorship of works in existentialism and logotherapy. She has also contributed to many book chapter proceedings and has many journal articles to her name. She has also attended and presented papers at various local and international conferences and has well-organized workshop and seminars at various levels and edited some works. She belongs to professional bodies of 
    Association of Professional Philosophers (APPON), International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD), International Society of Research on Edeh’s Philosophy and Theology (ISREPAT), Edeh’s Philosophy of Thought and Action (EPTAISM), Kierkegaardian Scholars of Nigeria (SKIASON), Nigerian Psychology Association (NPA), Nigerian Association of Developmental Psychologists (NADP). She is the Director of ‘Philosophy Clinic and Human Development Centre’ (PCHDC) in Madonna University, a novel practical paradigm to philosophy with logo-existential perspective basically from Franklian and Kierkegaardian dimensions for Meaning-Centred Counselling rooted in creative and critical reasoning via 
    purposeful navigation through challenges of existence towards authenticity of life. She is a polyglot and has received many awards from various bodies especially for academic diligence and service to the community. 

  • Princewill Iheanyi Alozie, PhD, Madonna University, Nigeria

     Princewill Iheanyi Alozie is a professor of philosophy. He has taught in many Nigerian premier universities to include University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, university of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and presently, he teaches in the Department of Philosophy, Madonna University, Nigeria. He has many publications to his name. He has interest in Philosophy of Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Biology, African Philosophy, etc.

  • Paschal Onyi Oguno , Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria

    Paschal Oguno, PhD is a Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence in Faculty of Law, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), formerly known as Anambra State University. Apart from being the former Dean of the Faculty, he has dedicatedly served the University in various capacities. He was a member of the University Governing Council, a member of the University Senate, the Director of Part Time and Weekend Programme, theDirector of International Linkages and Partnership. His distinguished eloquence has kept him as the University Orator for many years till date. He is also a legal practitioner, Notary Public, a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. His sense of professionalism gained him belongingness to various professional bodies such as Nigerian Barr Association (NBA), American Barr Association (ABA), Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), and 
    International Lawyers’ Association (ILA). He is also a member of Rotary International and Knight of Columbus (K of C). He is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of International Trade, Nigerian Institute of Public Management and Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. He serves too as a visiting Professor in the Faculty of law, Madonna University Nigeria, and Tennessee State, USA. He has many scholarly articles and other publications to his name. He has equally been honoured with many awards for academic diligence, and recognized in various sectors of human life especially in service to the community.

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Published

2024-06-22

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Articles

How to Cite

Leadership Models in Kierkegaardian and Kohlbergian Stages of Human Existence: Implications for African Leaders. (2024). Madonna University Thought and Action Journal of Philosophy, 2(1), 78-84. https://mu-tajop.com/index.php/journal/article/view/39

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