Diversity in Higher Education Leadership: Women for Higher Education Leadership in Nigeria and the UK
Diversity in Higher Education Leadership: Women for Higher Education Leadership in Nigeria and the UK
About the Project
The Diversity in Higher Education Leadership Project is an international research collaboration between Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) and Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Funded by the British Council’s Gender Equality Partnerships programme, the project addresses a persistent global challenge: the underrepresentation of women in senior leadership roles within higher education institutions.
Despite decades of progress, women remain disproportionately absent from Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and senior executive roles — both in Nigeria and the UK. This project takes a comparative, evidence-informed, and action-oriented approach to closing that gap.
Our Aim
To conduct a comparative analysis of gender diversity in higher education leadership and develop practical, scalable strategies to increase women’s representation in senior leadership roles in Nigeria and the UK.
Why This Matters
Higher Education Institutions shape national development, research agendas, workforce pipelines, and public policy. When leadership lacks diversity:
- Decision-making is narrowed
- Institutional cultures remain exclusionary
- Talent pipelines are weakened
- Gender inequities persist
This project recognises that structural barriers differ across contexts — but many challenges are shared:
- Cultural norms and gendered expectations
- Unconscious bias
- Limited mentorship and sponsorship
- Policy and governance barriers
- Informal power dynamics
By working across two national contexts, we generate comparative insight and shared solutions.
A forward-looking public university committed to inclusive leadership, research excellence, and global partnerships.
Project Lead:
Professor Adetoro Adegoke
Professor of Health Inequalities
Associate Dean – Research & Knowledge Exchange
Project Co-Lead:
Dr Dionne Spencer
Dean of Students
A leading Nigerian private not for profit University recognised for innovation, academic excellence, and leadership development.
Project Lead:
Professor Elizabeth Ojo
Dean, Faculty of Nursing
Project Co-Lead:
Professor Adeniran Afolalu
Director of International Collaboration and Linkages
What We Are Doing
The project is structured into five integrated work packages:
- Surveys and interviews with women in senior and middle management roles
- Systematic review of gender diversity policies in higher education
- Comparative policy analysis (Nigeria & UK)
Outputs:
Conference presentations
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF, Spencer D, Afolalu A. Breaking Barriers: A Comparative Analysis of Women’s Leadership in Higher Education in Nigeria and the UK. BNU Research Conference, July 2025.
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF, Spencer D, Afolalu A. Scaling the Glass Ceiling: A Comparative Study of Gendered Pathways to Academic Leadership in Nigeria and the UK. International Conference on Public Health and Medicine. Dubai, UAE. September 8-10, 2025.
Peer-reviewed publications
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF., Spencer D., and Afolalu A. Women in Higher Education Leadership: A systematic review of gender diversity in higher education. 2025. Gender and Society.
- AA Adegoke, EF Ojo, SA Afolalu Leadership Styles and Contributions of Women Leaders in Higher Education. NIPES JSTR SPECIAL ISSUE, 2025
- EF Ojo, FT Ojo, OO Akinyemi, SA Afolalu, MO Adeniji. The leaky pipeline Women in Academic Leadership: A Systematic Review of Gender Diversity in Higher Education. NIPES JSTR SPECIAL ISSUE, 2025
- AA Adegoke. Problematising leadership in health systems: Why equity is still “Additional” rather than core. Submitted. International Journal of Peace and Development
EMPOWER: Leadership Training for Women in Higher Education
Delivered in Nigeria and virtually in the UK, EMPOWER builds:
- Strategic leadership capability
- Negotiation confidence
- Leadership identity clarity
- Influence without authority
- Governance literacy
- Mentorship networks
The programme includes:
- Authentic Leadership & Confidence Reset
- Leadership Identity & Strength Mapping
- Power, Influence & Governance in Higher Education
- Negotiation Masterclass
- Influencing Without Authority
Outputs:
- EMPOWER Training Toolkit
- EMPOWER Participant Handbook
- EMPOWER Facilitator’s Guide Leadership Training for Women in Higher Education
- EMPOWER Training report
- EMPOWER communique
Media:
- ABUAD benefits British Council's £30,000 grant to advance Women’s Leadership in Academia
- ABUAD Roots for Women Empowerment in Partnership With UK University, Gets Fully Equipped ICT Centre
- ABUAD partners UK Varsity on Gender Matters, Commissions multi-million Naira ICT Centre
- Participants Storm ABUAD For Gender Equality & Women Leadership Training As Varsity Gets Multi-Million Naira ICT Hub
- Women Leadership In Academia: British Council Lifts ABUAD With £30,000 Grant - Daily Independent Newspaper
- UK don, ABUAD VC demand more gender balance in leadership of higher institutions
- UK based varsity don, ABUAD VC want more women in leadership position of higher institutions – Kayemonews.com
WoLiHE is a sustainable cross-country network that:
- Connects women leaders and aspiring leaders
- Provides mentorship and peer support
- Facilitates knowledge exchange
- Creates a repository of leadership resources
- Sustains dialogue beyond project funding
WoLiHE ensures the project moves from intervention to long-term transformation.
We engage:
- University leaders
- Regulatory bodies
- Policy stakeholders
- Academic unions
- Civil society organisations
Through consultation and structured dialogue, we develop:
- Actionable policy recommendations
- Gender-sensitive leadership frameworks
- Institutional reform pathways
- Final report
- Webinars and conference events
- Academic publications
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF., Spencer D., and Afolalu A. Women in Higher Education Leadership: A systematic review of gender diversity in higher education. 2025. Gender and Society.
- AA Adegoke, EF Ojo, SA Afolalu Leadership Styles and Contributions of Women Leaders in Higher Education. NIPES JSTR SPECIAL ISSUE, 2025
- EF Ojo, FT Ojo, OO Akinyemi, SA Afolalu, MO Adeniji. The leaky pipeline Women in Academic Leadership: A Systematic Review of Gender Diversity in Higher Education. NIPES JSTR SPECIAL ISSUE, 2025
- Adegoke AA. Problematising leadership in health systems: Why equity is still “Additional” rather than core. Submitted. International Journal of Peace and Development
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF, Spencer D, Afolalu A. Breaking Barriers: A Comparative Analysis of Women’s Leadership in Higher Education in Nigeria and the UK. BNU Research Conference, July 2025.
- Adegoke AA, Ojo EF, Spencer D, Afolalu A. Scaling the Glass Ceiling: A Comparative Study of Gendered Pathways to Academic Leadership in Nigeria and the UK. International Conference on Public Health and Medicine. Dubai, UAE. September 8-10, 2025.
- Printed Media
- ABUAD benefits British Council's £30,000 grant to advance Women’s Leadership in Academia
- ABUAD Roots for Women Empowerment in Partnership With UK University, Gets Fully Equipped ICT Centre
- ABUAD partners UK Varsity on Gender Matters, Commissions multi-million Naira ICT Centre
- Participants Storm ABUAD For Gender Equality & Women Leadership Training As Varsity Gets Multi-Million Naira ICT Hub
- Women Leadership In Academia: British Council Lifts ABUAD With £30,000 Grant - Daily Independent Newspaper
- UK don, ABUAD VC demand more gender balance in leadership of higher institutions
- UK based varsity don, ABUAD VC want more women in leadership position of higher institutions – Kayemonews.com
- Policy briefs
- Digital resource hub
- Launch of Women Leaders in Higher Education (WoLiHE)
Monitoring & Evaluation
We use a structured Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, including:
- Baseline and endline data collection
- The Kirkpatrick Framework to assess leadership training impact
- Policy adoption tracking
- Representation metrics analysis
- Qualitative interviews and case studies
Impact is measured not just by participation — but by structural change.
- Increased leadership confidence among participants
- Strengthened negotiation and governance capability
- Adoption of gender-sensitive policies within participating institutions
- Measurable increase in women in senior leadership roles
- Institutionalised leadership development pathways
- Sustained UK–Nigeria research collaboration
- Policy influence beyond participating universities
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes directly to:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Sustainability Beyond Funding
The project embeds long-term change through:
- Integration of leadership programmes into institutional CPD
- Formal Memoranda of Understanding
- Ongoing mentorship networks
- Future grant applications
- Curriculum integration
- Continued joint research agenda
This is not a one-off intervention. It is a leadership pipeline strategy.
Get Involved
We welcome collaboration with:
- Higher education institutions
- Policymakers
- Funders
- Researchers
- Women leaders and aspiring leaders
Contact
Professor Adetoro Adegoke
Buckinghamshire New University
adetoroadeyemi.adegoke@bnu.ac.uk