The Role of Ethical Leadership in University Administration: A Philosophical Perspective

In every university, the question of leadership is never merely administrative, it is moral, spiritual, and deeply human. This paper reflects on the role of ethical leadership in the life of the university, not as a bureaucratic demand but as a philosophical necessity. Within the Nigerian higher education space, where crises of trust, accountability, and vision persist, ethical leadership becomes the living pulse that animates justice, inclusivity, and the pursuit of truth. Guided by the wisdom of classical thinkers and the urgency of contemporary realities, the discussion revisits enduring principles of virtue, duty, and justice, and shows how they may be woven into the fabric of university governance. Ethical leadership, as m as argued, is not an abstract ideal but the very ground upon which academic freedom stands, the force that inspires staff, and the spirit that forms students into citizens of character. The paper concludes with a call: that Nigerian universities must return to their moral roots if they are to regain integrity, inspire confidence, and compete honorably in the global community of knowledge. Leadership without ethics is mere management; but leadership grounded in ethics becomes the art of forming both institutions and human beings for greatness.