EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management in university education in Nigeria. In the face of increasing interpersonal and institutional conflicts within Nigerian universities, ranging from student protests to administrative disputes, there is a growing need for effective, emotionally grounded leadership and conflict resolution strategies. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, sampling 300 academic and non-academic staff across selected public universities. Standardized instruments, including the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale and Rahim’s Conflict Management Styles Questionnaire, were used to collect data. Results from the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis revealed a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management (r = 0.66, p < 0.05). Key components of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and social skills, were also found to significantly correlate with constructive conflict management strategies, such as collaboration and compromise. The findings underscore the importance of emotional intelligence in promoting peaceful and productive academic environments. The study recommends the integration of emotional intelligence training into university leadership development programs and the incorporation of emotional intelligence education into relevant academic curricula. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge supporting emotionally intelligent leadership as a tool for sustainable conflict resolution in higher education institutions in Nigeria.

DOI: https://doie.org/10.10318/SER.2025675021