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Background: Most countries in Africa are heterogeneous in nature, as reflected in their ethno-religious, linguistic and cultural diversities. Very few countries in the continent of Africa enjoy homogeneity in terms of customs, religion, and ethnic groups, among others. Unlike some countries in Europe that share many things in common and have been able to enjoy relative peace and development over time, Africa has been a hotbed of crises and conflicts. Aim: Within the framework of the Theory of Integration, this article examines the interface between bureaucratic leadership and nation-building in Africa, with reference to Nigeria. The aim is to identify the challenges facing this country in its efforts at nation-building. Method: The article adopts a qualitative approach and is descriptive in nature, with the researcher setting out to illustrate the association that exists between dependent and independent variables. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed during a desktop study. The purpose was to identify the relevant publications and apply them in the research. Results: This article argues that Nigerians, in particular, and Africans, in general, do not seem to really desire a change of leadership that could enhance nation-building. If its leaders are bad, it is because they (the electorate) support them. Conclusion: Building administrative capacities is key to resolving the myriad of challenges facing bureaucratic leadership in nation-building in Nigeria. The activities of government are increasing by the day and are getting more complex, but the available skilled and experienced administrators are far behind what is required at any given point in time.
Chinyeake J. Igbokwe-Ibeto (Wed,) studied this question.