From Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

Founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has advised private universities in the country to adopt modern curricular to meet up with current and emerging realities.

This, he said, attracts lecturers from the global community, strengthens their network with other universities and help them to attain world-class status.

Babalola spoke on Thursday at the university’s campus in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while hosting a delegation of two-year-old Amzan University, Kano.

The delegation, led by Prof. Kabiru Dandago, was seeking partnership and mentorship to enable Amzan gain national and global recognition.

Read Also: FG’s closure of varsities, others, illegal, say Afe Babalola, Alaafin

He said: “If you want to be an internationally recognised university, you must have students and lecturers from other countries and modern curricula that will attract international students.

“For him (Sarina) to succeed, I advise the founder that he must be personally interested in the day-to-day running of the university while he should look for credible, selfless and honest Vice Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor to pilot the affairs of the university for him.

“With Sarina’s antecedent, his interest and experience in business, it should not be difficult for him to be his (Babalola’s) ally in quality and functional education.”

The legal icon said the decision to adopt his university as a mentor by Azman was not a surprise because other universities from within and outside Nigeria had been approaching the 10-year-old institution for the same reason.

Leading a 12-man team consisting of professionals from diverse fields, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Dandago, said that what he had heard about the ABUAD on infrastructure, faculty, environment, academic achievements and discipline were confirmed when his team got to the university on Wednesday night.

Dandago hailed Babalola for his selflessness in establishing a world-class university that has been the toast of many others within 10 years.