International Journal of Academic Accounting, Finance & Management Research (IJAAFMR)   Year: 2020 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 1-5 Leadership Challenges and Nigeria Development. The Issues and Imperatives Anekwe Rita Ifeoma Abstract: The study examined leadership challenges and Nigeria development: issues and imperatives. The most critical challenge confronting Nigeria is leadership. The present and past leaders of Nigeria seem to have failed to provide quality leadership capable of addressing numerous challenges confronting the country. These leadership challenges are evidenced in political, social and economic instability and the prevalence of ethnic, communal and religious crises, which have bedeviled Nigerian socio economic development. The reverberation effects of the failure of leadership, corruption and bad governance are visible and being felt across all sectors and segment of the Nigerian society. Leadership and good governance are crucial to realizing any giant stride taken in pursuit of development anywhere in the world, Nigeria is not an exception. The Contingency Theory of Leadership propounded by Fred Fiedler was adapted. The study assesses the challenges of leadership in Nigeria and the characteristics of good governance. It was concluded that, to tackle the challenges of leadership that bedeviled the country, Nigeria needs sound ethical leadership that is rooted in respect, service, justice, honesty and community. Leaders who place fairness at the center of decision making, including the challenging task of being fair to individuals as well as to the common interest of the community they serve. It therefore recommended that leaders should have good moral conduct and ethical responsibility to enable them to attend to the demands, concerns, needs, and problems of the citizens in the country.