The Foreign Service Academy, led by Mr Olugbenga Omosuyi, was on March 15, 2011, on a Study Tour to Afe Babalola University. The tour is part of activities incorporated into the Foreign Service Academy Week scheduled to hold from Sunday, March 14 to Friday, March 18. The rationale behind the tour is to enable the prospective diplomats have visual and cognitive conception of every part of the country.
On arrival in the University campus, the team was received at Owolabi Hall by the Media Unit, Afe Babalola University. Also present at the hall was Mr. Ibrahim Kukoyi, a lecturer in Tourism Department, who served as the Tour Guard for the Tourists. In the hall, the tourists were put in a receptive mood, while they watch a documentary that encapsulates the Promoter of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and the Philosophy on which ABUAD stands, that is, to lead education reform in Nigeria and everything that ABUAD symbolizes in terms of infrastructures, ventures and reeling allures.
Having had background information about ABUAD through the documentary, the tourists who were so eager to explore what they have seen and heard electronically began a facility tour of all colleges in the University. While the group walked around to sightsee the facilities, they could not contain their feelings and appreciation to a man, Aare Afe Babalola, who thought it so needful and essential to help humanity; truly reform the parlous state of education in Nigeria with the establishment of ABUAD.
At the University Sports Centre, the team had the opportunity to meet the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Professor M.O. Ajisafe. The tourists happened to be in ABUAD when Inter-Hall Competitions were on. While the team was with the DVC, they bared their impressions on the contemporary facilities and novel infrastructures they have seen, and equally poured encomiums on the sage, Aare Afe Babalola. The team leader, Mr Olugbenga Omosuyi, said that, what they have seen are beyond them; that ABUAD is better experienced than imagined. In his remarks, the DVC, Prof. M.O. Ajisafe, welcomed the team to ABUAD. He stressed that ABUAD is the initiative of Aare Afe Babalola who is set to lead education reform in Nigeria. He further disclosed that, ABUAD is the fastest growing private university in Africa; it is a University committed to producing graduates who can confidently and outstandingly defend their various degree certificates.
From the Sports Centre, the tourists with the Tour Guard, Mr. Ibrahim Kukoyi, moved to the University Ventures Centre. The first point of call was the University Water Plant; followed by the University Printing Press, the University Bakery, the University Guest House and lastly, they came into the University Cafeteria. According to them, ABUAD is matured than its age in terms of development.
For the tourists, the last point of call was a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Professor Sidi Osho. At the Senate Chamber, where the team was received, the team leader, Mr Olugbenga Omosuyi, thanked the VC for the warm reception given to them, and also used the opportunity to brief the VC on the mission of the Foreign Service Academy. The Team Leader said that, the Academy is an integral part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that the Academy offers certificates that commensurate with University Master’s Degree. He stated that, the team is a conglomerate of Nigerians who are prospective diplomats trained to become professionals. In her remarks, the VC, Prof. Sidi Osho, acknowledged the presence of the tourists in the name of the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola. She affirmed that Ekiti State is a place where education is acknowledged, and that ABUAD, the brain child of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), is a centre of academic excellence established with the philosophy to reform education in Nigeria. According to the University Don, ABUAD operates on well-structured specialized curriculum. According to her, there are salient institutional development programmes that admitted students must fulfill, such as leadership centre, enterprise centre, language centre, sports centre, food security centre and national and international internship centre – all channeled to develop and mold the students for life challenges; these are in addition to the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved curriculum. In response, the team leader, who was extremely overwhelmed by what he has heard and seen said, everything about ABUAD is more than excellence.
