By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The 2026 Foundation Day Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) will be delivered by the Governor of Ondo State, Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, at the Obafemi Awolowo Auditorium on the university’s campus.
The lecture, themed “Leadership and Organisational Performance: Technology as a Driver,” is part of the university’s tradition of commemorating its establishment and fostering intellectual engagement between academia and society, often described as a convergence of “town and gown.”
This was disclosed in a statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Adegbenro Adebanjo.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s selection as keynote speaker underscores his administration’s focus on leadership, innovation, and technological adoption. His government has in recent months championed digital growth, including initiatives such as the Ondo State Artificial Intelligence Adoption Summit and efforts to position the state as a hub for technology-driven governance.
According to the statement, the event is expected to attract key stakeholders across the education sector, including academic and administrative heads of higher institutions, professional university administrators, representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, as well as members of traditional institutions and the general public.
The Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, will chair the occasion, while the Registrar, Mr Charles Adeleye, will serve as host.
The governor’s commitment to education and human capital development has been evident in his policy direction. He has reiterated his administration’s resolve to reposition education as a critical pillar of development, describing it as a bridge between aspiration and realisation.
He has also supported student welfare, transport services, and stability in tertiary institutions across the state.
The lecture comes at a time when the role of technology in transforming governance, organisational effectiveness, and youth potential, especially in education and enterprise, has gained increasing attention in national discourse.
The Foundation Day Lecture remains one of the institution’s flagship academic events, designed to promote interaction between the university community and the wider society.