Deliberate investment in and development of Nigeria’s huge human capital has been identified as the defining factor for Nigeria’s competitiveness in the 21st century. This was the central message of the 202nd Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), delivered by Professor Modupe Ajayi, titled “Human Resource and Strategy: The Backbone of Global Competitiveness,” on Tuesday July 14,2026. Professor Ajayi asserted that the prosperity of nations and the success of organisations are no longer determined solely by the abundance of natural resources, sophisticated technologies, favourable policies or well-crafted strategic plans, but by their ability to transform these assets into sustainable value through capable, motivated and engaged people.
Professor Ajayi advised that Nigeria ,in the private and public sector , should intentionally focus on education, vocational training, digital literacy and lifelong learning as indispensable drivers of sustainable national development, innovation and institutional excellence. She said,” No nation can attain lasting global competitiveness without making its people its greatest strategic investment.”
According to the Professor of Human Resource and Strategic Management, strategic human capital development must become a national priority through sustained investment in quality education, vocational and technical training, digital literacy and lifelong learning. She noted that these pillars equip individuals with the competencies required to innovate, adapt to changing realities and contribute meaningfully to national productivity, economic transformation and sustainable development.
She identified five dimensions of global competitiveness as strategic clarity, human capability, inclusion and participation, knowledge and digital readiness, and execution discipline, explaining that these interconnected elements provide the framework upon which institutions, organisations and nations can build enduring competitive advantage in an increasingly dynamic global environment.
Professor Ajayi called on governments at all levels to formulate and implement policies that strengthen educational institutions, expand access to vocational and technical education, promote digital literacy and create opportunities for continuous learning. She stressed that investment in people should be viewed not as a social obligation but as a strategic imperative for sustainable national development.
She also challenged industry leaders to prioritise talent development, ethical leadership and continuous capacity building by creating workplaces that nurture innovation, productivity and employee engagement. According to her, organisations that intentionally invest in their workforce are better positioned to compete effectively in the global marketplace.
The don further urged universities and other higher educational institutions to remain responsive to emerging societal and industrial needs by producing graduates equipped with relevant knowledge, practical skills and entrepreneurial competencies through research, innovation and industry-driven curricula.
She equally called on communities to champion inclusive learning initiatives, skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes that prepare citizens for productive participation in the knowledge economy, while encouraging students to embrace lifelong learning, adaptability and personal development as essential attributes for future leadership and career success.
Professor Ajayi, who served as the Registrar of the institution between 2011 and 2017, maintained that Nigeria’s competitiveness in this century will be secured not only by slogans, infrastructure or imported technologies, but by institutions that think strategically, lead ethically, learn continuously, include deliberately and invest courageously in people.
She concluded that the future belongs to nations that place people at the centre of their development agenda, emphasizing that strategic human capital development remains the backbone of global competitiveness and the surest pathway to sustainable growth, innovation and shared prosperity.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, described the inaugural lecture as a profound intellectual contribution to contemporary discourse on national development and organisational excellence. She noted that Professor Ajayi’s presentation reaffirmed the centrality of human capital to sustainable development and underscored the need for strategic investments in education, innovation and lifelong learning.
Professor Oladiji commended the inaugural lecturer for delivering a thought-provoking and practical discourse, observing that the lecture challenged governments, industry, academia, communities and individuals to rethink the role of people as the nation’s greatest strategic asset. She added that the message aligns with FUTA’s commitment to producing graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and values required to drive innovation, solve societal problems and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
, delivered by Professor Modupe Ajayi, titled "Human Resource and Strategy: The Backbone of Global Competitiveness,” on Tuesday July 14,2026.){kind=link}