REGIONAL HEGEMONY AND LEADERSHIP SPACE IN AFRICA: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIA’S PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Аннотация

This research paper critically examines the concept of regional hegemony and leadership space in Africa, with a specific focus on Nigeria's prospects and challenges in assuming such a role. As the most populous country in Africa and a significant regional power, Nigeria has been perceived as a potential leader in the continent's political, economic, and security affairs. The study delves into the historical context of Nigeria's leadership aspirations and analyzes the factors that have shaped its regional influence. Additionally, the paper assesses the challenges that Nigeria faces in consolidating its leadership position, including internal governance issues, regional competition, and global power dynamics. By providing a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria's journey towards regional hegemony, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of Africa's geopolitical landscape and sheds light on the complexities of leadership dynamics in the continent. KEYWORDS Regional hegemony, leadership space, Africa, Nigeria, geopolitical landscape, regional power, political influence, economic dynamics, security affairs, governance challenges, global power dynamics.