By: Tunde OLOFINTILA
When Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) came forward with his dream and vision to reform functional education in this clime by providing and leading others in quality education, service, industry and character as well as discipline, some skeptics probably have looked at the now flourishing dream with some subdued optimism: some ‘let’s wait and see attitude’.
But today, a first time visitor to the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), which regally sits in the serene atmosphere and lush ambience of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, would look up in awe and marvel at the majestic architectural masterpieces that adorn the landscape of the less than four-year old world class citadel of learning. That is on the one hand.
On the other however is the trailer-load of encomiums, Awards, acknowledgements and recognitions being accorded the four and half years old world class institution which has been described by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for African Affairs, Dr. Lalla Aicha Ben Barka as a shining beacon of academic excellence in tertiary education.
The University which on account of its salutary and exemplary performance was appointed the Mentor Institution to the new University of Industrial Development in Ghana I November last year, last week enjoyed the uncommon privilege of playing host to this year’s annual Retreat of UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, a privilege not granted many.
At the historic three-day Retreat which saw the Executive Vice Chairman of Julius Berger, Nigeria, Mr. Heinz Stockhausen and the Deputy Director-General of IITA, Prof. Kenton Danshiell, presenting papers became another occasion of acknowledging and celebrating the monumental achievements of both Babalola and the university since it commenced academic works on January4, 2010.
In her loaded speech at the commencement of the retreat, the Director, UNESCO’s Regional Office, Abuja, Prof. Hassana Alidou, did not mince word at commending the university when she said: “We are, therefore, in ABUAD not only to visit or hold our retreat and go back to Abuja. We see this as a Launchpad for increased partnerships in research and innovation into what works and good practices that we can scale up in the region. We are here to see how the UNESCO Chairs in Peace and Citizenship Education; and the other one on Entrepreneurship Education and Agriculture for Sustainable Development have progressed. We are here to explore options in sciences, culture, communication and education which we can use in our initiatives for the region”.
She added: “We are here because of the extraordinary and significant achievements of a humanitarian and philanthropist Aare Afe Babalola. A Nigerian, African and global citizen who put his wisdom, knowledge, competence and wealth to the benefit of humankind by building a World class institution of higher education whose reputation has gone beyond Nigeria’s borders and has welcome excellent faculty, researchers from Nigeria, Europe and America. And students from all over the world are attending ABUAD because of its high quality programme recognized by national and international Accreditation bodies”.
She therefore congratulated ABUAD for ensuring that its students do not miss any quality learning time as they graduate on time in a country where students in public universities spend between seven and eight years for four years academic programmes due to the prevalence of strike actions by the various workers unions.
According to Alidou, ABUAD’s commitment in this regard was confirmed by her being part of the university’s maiden convocation when it graduated its first set of 103 students from the College of Sciences and the College of Social and Management Sciences at a colourful ceremony witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for African Affairs, Dr. Lalla Aicha Ben Barka among other crème-de-la-crème of the society on October 21, last year, a year marked by more than 10 months of strike by institutions of higher education in Nigeria.
These achievements, the UNESCO chieftain emphasized, are due to the vision and mission statement articulated in ABUAD founding document but more over the dedication of its leader, Aare Afe Babalola, and the highly qualified faculty and administrators as well as highly motivated parents and students as well as all the women and men who attend daily to students need and welfare by ensuring they all eat well and the landscape and the whole ABUAD environment is kept clean, beautiful and safe.
She noted that these are aspects of quality assurance that characterized a first tier university not only in Nigeria, but in America, Europe and Asia and we saw it developing in ABUAD. ABUAD is a model higher education institution which we are proud of and happy to be connected with for a long time.
She equally made it known that UNESCO is both a knowledge and learning organization and not a funding or donor agency, rather a convener, custodian of agreed global standards, intellectual hub and laboratory of innovations on what works for development. This, in her view, made a university like ABUAD a natural home for UNESCO with the hope that the two institutions will continue to collaborate and learn from each other.
According to her, the current priorities of UNESCO Office in Abuja are those which resonate with the needs of Member States and therefore, it wants ve to promote all round and life-long education; to see more girls doing the science subjects very well; to see that Africa’s cultural heritage is not only preserved but also used for economic benefit; to see young people innovating with mobile applications and other ICT uses; see a revolution of creativity which will lead to more employment opportunities and solutions to development problems.
“By hosting us for free here, ABUAD is now among those strong partners who are proving the needed support for our work. We are grateful for this”, she stressed.
She concluded by thanking Babalola for this world class investment, pointing out that “this Campus is in the league of some of the big Universities I have seen in the developed world in terms of facilities. I congratulate you for this investment in your country. You have set a good record which should be emulated by succeeding generations. Investment in quality education is an investment into our future. Thanks again for the wonderful hospitality. We wish you great success as you build destinies of current and future generations”.