Effective Institutional Leadership: A Catalyst for the Attainment of University Goals in 21st Century in Nigeria

University is a knowledge house where individuals acquire skills, knowledge and virtues that help the learners to live a productive life and contribute to the development of the society. These laudable goals can only be achieved with a pragmatic and dynamic leader who is proactive in problem solving. The effectiveness of leadership depends on accomplishment of university goals which to a reasonable extent been determined by the leadership style. This study examines effective institutional leadership: as a catalyst for the attainment of university goals in the 21^st century in Nigeria. The study indicated that university is not only the community of teachers and students but also an institution that consists of rules and regulation with authorities and responsibilities clearly demarcated between the superordinate and subordinate and authority hierarchically flowing from top to bottom. The study concludes that university as a unique institution desire a unique leadership style and therefore there is no one silver bullet leadership style that can solve all the problems in university. The study suggests that the leaders of educational institutions should diversify the sources of income by investing in commercial activities, in consultancy services and collaborating with the larger society in research and publication, and lecturers to embrace digital technology if they must compete in knowledge driven society and contribute to the attainment of education goals of the 21^st century.