Journal of African Development

Administrative effectiveness in educational institutions has emerged as a critical determinant of academic and organizational success. In recent years, rising concerns about insecurity, safety deficiencies, and inadequate emergency preparedness within higher education institutions, particularly in public Colleges of Education across Southwest Nigeria, have posed significant challenges to effective administration and the continuity of academic operations. Against this backdrop, this study investigated the extent to which safety management predicts administrative effectiveness in public Colleges of Education in Southwest Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised 560 senior administrators drawn from various departments and units across the public Colleges of Education in the region. The total enumeration technique was adopted, with all 560 administrators participating in the study. Data were collected using two self-developed and validated instruments: Safety Management Scale (r = .81) and Administrative Effectiveness Scale (r = .79). Descriptive statistics were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product-Moment Correlation tested the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that administrative effectiveness in public Colleges of Education was relatively high (x̅ = 3.00). However, the level of safety management (x̅ = 2.28) was comparatively low. Inferential statistics showed a significant relationship between safety management (r = .87, p < .05) and administrative effectiveness. Conclusively, safety management significantly predicts administrative effectiveness in public Colleges of Education in Southwest Nigeria. It was recommended that the implementation of standardized safety procedures, such as regular inspections, fire and emergency drills, and continuous health and safety training for both staff and students, be emphasized as essential for enhancing institutional resilience and ensuring a safer academic environment.