Registration of new intakes for the academic year 2012/2013 has taken place at the Afe Babalola University, amidst pomp and pageantry.
The three day exercise which daily witnessed heavy human and vehicular movements as early as seven in the morning was meant to reduce the stress, usually faced by students and parents on registration days in other institutions of learning.
The new ultra-modern 5,000 seater magnificent Multi-Purpose Hall was the venue of the exercise which was co-ordinated by the Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode with assistance from other members of her department. The exercise was unanimously described by parents as smooth as silk.
Indeed it was a beehive of activities which recorded a very big turnout of parents, guardians and students from all walks of life, all gorgeously dressed in classy trends in the fashion world. Assorted and exquisite cars re-affirming the status of parents donned the neatly marked car parks, which also added glamour and glitz to the serene environment.
Security was tight and heavily controlled by polite security officials, including some members of the Police Force and the State Security Service.
Canopies were erected at the footage of the prestigious Bimbo Owolabi hall for the safekeeping of belongings of the incoming students while parents relaxed inside the air-conditioned hall, watching various documentary films of the University. Two banks (Skye and WEMA) were strategically positioned to help parents to open accounts for their children.
In his welcome remarks at the occasion, the Chairman, Parents Teachers Consultative Forum, Prof. Adekunle Alalade who was a two term Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Iperu-Remo and currently the Director of General Studies in ABUAD welcomed parents and students to the most beautiful Private University in Nigeria. He congratulated the students for their success in the admission examinations and urged parents to co-operate with the school authorities at all times.
Also welcoming the parents, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sidi Osho highlighted the vision behind the establishment of the University. According to her, the aim is to lead education reform and demonstrate to Nigerians that it is possible to make our education one of the best in the world. She thanked the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN, OFR, CON) for deploying his massive wealth into bequeathing an educational legacy to this present generation and those yet unborn.
Prof. Sidi Osho also expressed her gratitude to the parents for their determination to get the best education for their offspring. She told them that ABUAD was rated by the National Universities Commission, other stakeholders and observers as “a miracle, a bench mark, a reference point for other private universities and one of the best things to have happened to education in this part of the world.”
During an interactive session, the Founder Aare Afe Babalola accompanied by his wife, Yeye Modupe Babalola welcomed parents to his modest gift to humanity. He explained that ABUAD was set up to be a result-oriented institution for producing highly skilled and socially relevant graduates, capable of applying scientific knowledge for the resolution of social problems.
He explained further that what ABUAD had achieved so far was as a result of the collective effort, sweat and hard work of Staff, students, admirers and parents.
Aare Afe Babalola urged them to join hands to remove the rot in our educational system.
On religion, the Founder reiterated, the University’s readiness to continue her support for freedom of worship but frowns at fanaticism. He congratulated both students and parents for choosing ABUAD and promised not to relent in his efforts at attracting the best staff and facilities to the institution.
Giving the vote of thanks, a parent Prof Olu Aboluwoye of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba were satisfied that their children had made the right decision in their academic pursuit by being part of the ABUAD family.
They prayed to God to continue to endow the Founder with good health and long-life.
Present at the occasion were the University Librarian, Mrs. Rosaline Subair, the Counselor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ojo, Head of Dept, Business administration, Dr. Achugo and other ABUAD top functionaries.