FG should learn from ABUAD on achieving quality education — Afe Babalola
…as institution emerges global best in 2024 latest rankings
By: ‘Yomi Ayeleso
The Founder & Chancellor of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has called on the federal government to be humble and learn from his institution how to develop an effective template for achieving quality and functional education for the country.
The elder statesman, who explained that ABUAD in less than 15 years of its existence, has achieved unimaginable feats which are attracting global recognition, noted that the present administration must be ready to change the face of university education in the country with deliberate efforts by understudying the success stories of the institution.
The renowned legal icon spoke at the weekend while addressing journalists on the latest rankings of ABUAD as the number one university in the world in the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7), on Affordable and Clean Energy; outreaches programmes and stewardship by the respected Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THEIRS).
Also in the latest rankings, the university emerged number one in Nigeria among the 264 federal, state and private universities for the third time in succession.
The ABUAD founder maintained that the achievements and the successes recorded by the institution in the fifteen years were a result “of our quality curriculum, stable and predictable academic calendar all of which have given birth to quality education and that I want to nurture this university be like Harvard and other top universities in the world.”
He reiterated his stance that only functional and quality education would save the country from the myriad of challenges confronting it, saying that leaders at the helm of affairs should embrace principles of hard work, honesty and faith, continually exhibited by the university.
Babalola said, “The above notwithstanding, our ranking position has changed significantly. The reason is because this year, our ranking has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria and, now gone global.
“This result constitutes a challenge to all Nigerians, particularly our universities. We are all aware of the economic doldrum that the country is battling with. I must stress that education is the panacea to all the ignorance, extremism, poverty, religious bigotry and tribalism among other problems, confronting the country.
“It is my conviction that if people in authority in our country can be humble enough and emulate the type of complete, and innovative education system, hardwork, honesty and faith, being exhibited in ABUAD, Nigeria would have been better for it.
“The government should as a matter of fact take a clue from the regulatory body which is the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) which declares ABUAD as a model, benchmark, reference point as well as the pride of university system in Nigeria.
“I make bold to say that there is hope for this country, Nigeria. If ABUAD can achieve all these in 15 years, then the future is bright for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Babalola commended members of the university community for their relentless efforts in making sure that the University was reckoned with, in the educational sector, and urged them not to rest on their oars.
“I encourage all members of staff to see our current ranking as a call to duty, so that apart from remaining number one next year, we will be number one in other areas, and number one globally in everything,” he said.
On her part, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, commended Babalola for deploying his hard-earned resources in championing the needed revolution in the education sector, with the establishment of the university.
Olarinde, who had just clocked his second year in office as VC, after acting for three years, said the institution’s management and staff would continue to justify Babalola’s huge investment, by working harder towards making the institution, one of the best 100 in the world.
The VC said, ” In ABUAD, our role in the educational sector in the country and in Africa, is to transform the entire educational system. It is the belief of our founder, that you do not transform something by doing everything the usual way, you can only transform something by doing things the excellent and the uncommon way.
“We at ABUAD, have achieved this enviable level of national and global excellence because of the quality of graduates we turn out, through impactful education and training, not only for degrees, but also in character and industrious moulding.”