Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has charged Nigerian universities with going beyond degree certification to actively producing graduates equipped with the leadership skills, technological competence, and adaptability required to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape.

Aiyedatiwa delivered the charge on Thursday as guest speaker at the Federal University of Technology, Akure Foundation Day Lecture, where he presented a lecture titled "Leadership, Organisational Performance and Technology in a Rapidly Changing World."

Describing higher institutions as critical to innovation, human capital development, and national competitiveness, the governor maintained that Nigeria's future economic and technological advancement would depend largely on the quality of leadership and the strength of its educational institutions.

He argued that leadership must be understood as a process rather than a position, stressing that it "unfolds through continuous interaction between leaders and followers within an organisational context." He added that "leadership remains fundamental to organisational success," describing it as the art of influencing and motivating people towards collective goals rather than exercising authority through coercion.

Tracing the evolution of leadership thought, Aiyedatiwa moved from earlier assumptions that leaders are born with innate traits such as intelligence and confidence to modern perspectives emphasising learned skills, behaviour, and situational awareness. He affirmed that "leadership competence can be developed through education and experience," identifying technical, human, and conceptual skills as essential components.

On organisational performance, he declared that "institutions perform better when leaders provide direction, formulate sound policies and inspire commitment," adding that "no organisation can succeed without the commitment and effort of those responsible for implementation."

The governor warned that "technology alone does not guarantee organisational success," insisting it must be integrated into leadership strategy. He acknowledged that artificial intelligence and data analytics are reshaping operations but stressed that leadership still requires wisdom, judgment, and emotional intelligence.

Citing FUTA as a leading example of institutional performance, he noted that "the quality of graduates, research impact and innovation define institutional performance," and urged universities to equip students with adaptability and critical thinking alongside technical knowledge.

FUTA Vice Chancellor Prof. Adenike Oladiji, in her welcome address, described technology as a vital tool for leaders to shape organisational direction and drive innovation, affirming that universities remain repositories of knowledge strengthened through engagement between scholars and practitioners.