Effect of Innovative Mindset and Competitive Aggressiveness on the Performance of Selected Private Universities in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

In an increasingly competitive and dynamic higher education landscape, private universities require leaders who are not only innovative and proactive but also capable of fostering a market-sensitive organizational culture to ensure sustainability and growth. The study adopts the causal research design to specifically determine the effect of innovative mindset and competitive aggressive on the performance of private universities in North central Nigeria. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected from a sample of 293 academic and senior administrative staff members across eleven (11) private universities in North Central Nigeria through a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) carried out with the help of the SmartPLS statistical software to determine the effect of two dimensions of entrepreneurial leadership (innovative mindset and competitive aggressiveness) on private university performance. The findings reveal a significant and positive relationship between the two dimensions (innovative mindset and competitive aggressiveness) and private universities performance, with innovative mindset emerging as the most influential dimension. The results highlight the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and fostering an institutional culture that encourages proactive behavior, innovative thinking and strategic foresight among leaders in private tertiary institutions. The study contributes to the literature on higher education leadership and provides practical implications for policymakers, administrators, and stakeholders in the North Central Nigeria and broader Nigerian higher education context.