Leadership Thematicity and the Pleasant Melody Among Staff: Empirical Reflection of Rt. Rev. Prof. Obeka's Tenure at Wesley University, Ondo

Abstract

Leadership deficit in the university’s ivory tower hinders institutional culture, staff retention, and sustainable academic excellence. This study assessed the leadership thematicity of Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Sunday Obeka and its influence on a “pleasant melody” among staff of Wesley University, Ondo, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a population of 411 staff, from which a sample of 196 was drawn using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. Stratified and random sampling techniques were employed. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.84, administered through a self-administered approach. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis based on the research questions and hypotheses, with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) as the analytical tool.

The findings revealed that leadership harmony (B = 0.019; p = 0.793 > 0.05), leadership inclusiveness (B = 0.083; p = 0.278 > 0.05), vision-driven governance (B = 0.086; p = 0.256 > 0.05), and spiritual depth (B = 0.072; p = 0.323 > 0.05) did not significantly influence perceptions of a pleasant melody or harmonious workplace. This implies that other variables not captured in the study, such as job satisfaction, interpersonal relationships, institutional stability, and external stressors, may play a more prominent role and should be examined in future research. The study’s value relevance lies in demonstrating that Prof. Obeka’s leadership thematicity has orchestrated a cohesive academic and administrative culture that has positively transformed Wesley University’s trajectory.