ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL FOR EDUCATION THROUGH CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Higher educational institutions bear a significant responsibility for fostering societal well-being and overcoming obstacles to sustainable socioeconomic progress. As enlightened segments of society, universities serve as exemplars that the public relies upon for guidance. Consequently, the academic community's role is indispensable for the successful implementation of any policy aimed at a sustainably developed society. To effectively address conflict within the university system, it is crucial to institute a constructive communication process that considers the personalities of negotiators and is guided by the appropriate leadership style of university administrators. Communication in conflict management must be both timely and sincere, and university authorities should adopt democratic and dialogical approaches to institutional governance. Furthermore, universities should integrate conflict management and resolution into their curricula. It is equally vital that both university and national leaders adopt non-violent, strategic approaches to resolving contentious issues.