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Tag: Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD)

  • ABUAD partners IITA, others on youth employment in agri-business

    The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has signed a three-year partnership deal with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and AfricaRice on engagement of youths in agri-business.

    A team of experts from the partnering agencies said the deal was borne out of the need to encourage youths, who represent a virile segment of Nigerians, to go into farming.

    They noted that it will tackle youth unemployment in the land.

    The experts spoke on Monday at ABUAD during the unveiling of the partnership and the kick-off of the IFAD Project Inception Workshop, tagged: Youth Employment in Agri-business and Sustainable Agriculture.

    An IFAD Technical Specialist and leader of the team, Dr. Malu Muia Ndavi, said the agencies wanted to partner the institution because of their deep concerns for job creation in Nigeria and Africa, having realised that youth unemployment is Africa’s major challenge.

    Ndavi added that unemployment in Africa and its consequences pose a potent threat to the continent.

    According to him, all hands must be on the deck to tackle the menace.

    He said Africa must re-examine its modules of education and overhaul its curricular to be on international pedestal with 21st century economic growth.

    “Let me assure you that we will listen to the modalities set by ABUAD to train 1,000 youths within two months in modern farming. We are going to ensure that every commitment we make shall be delivered and this will mark the beginning of long-term partnership with this university,” Ndavi said.

    ABUAD Founder Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), who stressed the need for a paradigm shift from the erroneous perception that farming is not a better occupation, noted that agriculture remains a potent weapon of improving socio-economic development.

    The legal luminary said he remained resolute in his commitment to reposition and restore the lost glory of agriculture to what obtained during the golden era when it was the mainstay of the economy.

    He said: “The mentality of an average Nigerian was that only white-collar jobs were good.

    “When the white men introduced the civil service, civil servants then lived like gods; so were trained wrongly. They never emphasised that farming was a good profession.

    “But somebody must correct this wrong impression and ABUAD is ready to do this. We must research and bring new innovations to agriculture and modernise farming.”

    Aare Babalola said his unprecedented achievements in law, education and agriculture were not a fluke but the climax of a career with dedication, sacrifice and commitment to excellence.

    The eminent lawyer added that ABUAD was established not as a profit-taking institution but to make a change in the perceived rotten = Education sector of the country.

    Read Also: ABUAD to train unemployed graduates

    He said his dreams had been fulfilled within the few years of existence of ABUAD.

    Babalola said the adoption of the institution by different institutions in Nigeria and beyond as a model attests to the fact that it is a leading light in the realm of quality and functional education.

    “I decided to establish this university to change the face of the Education sector in the country. I have launched the revolution and the revolution has started in ABUAD.

    “For a university to be great, it has to put in place supersonic infrastructural learning facilities, an environment that is conducive for learning and latest ICT. It must also organise teaching methodology workshops.

    “Apart from that, it has to be secured and must be fully residential because the students must be good in learning and character,” he said.

    Babalola added: “And if they go away, how do you know their characters? If a student is taking cannabis, how do you monitor him? How do you monitor his punctuality? This is the advantage of a university like ours.

    “Here in ABUAD, we learn even at night. No other university does that in Nigeria. Education without functionality is nothing. Some lecturers are still using the note they used 35 years ago. Lecturers in our institution adopt the newest system of teaching methodology; that is why our students are doing well.

    “In the next five years, ABUAD will join the league of first 100 universities in the world and become a hub of academic research institution in Africa and beyond.

    “We will not relent in our efforts to continue breeding a new generation and developing a new Nigeria.”

    To underscore the value he places on farming, Babalola said if he had a second chance of coming to this world, he would embrace farming as a profession.

    “This is because I was born in the farm by a farmer and it was where I learnt everything that gave me these achievements today.

    “In the olden days, people were committed to farming because nobody was coming to kill or kidnap you on the farm. There was no reason for them to go to the hospital. I myself have never gone to any hospital for treatment because we were with nature, and once you are with the nature, you will be healthy.”

    Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sylvester Ojo said the university was established with a mission to make a mark and contribute to global development.

    “This collaboration is coming at the right time because many Nigerian graduates are involved in kidnapping, robbery, prostitution, because they have no jobs to do. But if we can encourage these youths, job-seeking will be solved,” he said.

     

  • Neither here nor there

    Legal luminary and the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has once again brought to the fore the issue of what the minimum educational qualification for people seeking to be president, governors and other elective positions should be.

    He also spoke on sundry issues of national concern, including the large retinue of political aides appointed by some political leaders, and who gulp huge resources by way of mouthwatering perks and emoluments.  He recalled that lawmakers in the First Republic were on part-time basis and therefore got only sitting allowances, not salaries as we have it today.  He also pushed for the imperative of a single presidential and gubernatorial term of six years, among others.

    Aare Babalola, who spoke on “Awoism and the unending search for transformational leadership in Nigeria: Political, economic, educational and social challenges” at the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize Award ceremony held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, on March 6, is the third and latest recipient of the prestigious award; the other two recipients being Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

    The legal icon was probably right in his recommendation of a six-year single tenure for president and governors because of the intensity of the struggle for these positions, as a result of the power and influence the occupiers of the offices wield. Not a few people felt this recommendation would reduce the ‘do-or-die’ tendencies on the part of many of those seeking these positions. He may also have been right in recommending a return to the past, when law makers would only be paid allowances as a way of conserving fund, as well as reducing the unnecessary acrimonies that usually attend the electoral process in the National Assembly.

    But we are not comfortable with legislating educational qualification for seekers of governorship, presidential or other positions. Yes, this may seem the in-thing in our age. There is no doubt that education is key to development; and that people who go to the university are supposed to be better exposed to cope with modern day challenges.

    But we have seen that this is not always so. As a matter of fact, some of the graduates who have held leadership positions in the country have only shown that they passed through the citadels of learning, the citadels of learning did not pass through them. Indeed, the saying that degrees are awarded only to people found worthy in character and in learning, has no meaning when we consider what some of the university graduates who have held leadership positions in the country did while they were in office. Rather than use the education they acquired for positive purposes, they have used it rather to dysfunctional ends.

    What we have seen with regard to these people are creative ways to cheat or steal from the national till without being caught; or when caught, without being punished. They do virtually everything with impunity, in spite of their educational attainments and in a ‘who will catch me’ manner. Above all, they end up leaving the office they occupy worse than they met it. Yet, we have seen quite a few examples of people who never went to university and still left better legacies than those who were supposed to be university graduates.

    What we are saying in effect is that being a graduate will not necessarily translate to delivery of democratic dividend.  It is more of an individual thing; people’s background, antecedents, etc., all matter in making one a successful or a failed leader. Therefore, we should not be mechanistic about or fixated with university degrees.  A university degree is desirable; but we should make no attempt to fetichize it. It is something that should be allowed to evolve into an accepted convention. We believe it is only a matter of time.  We will surely get there.

  • Falana to Nigerians: Sue govt. for poor healthcare delivery

    Falana to Nigerians: Sue govt. for poor healthcare delivery

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said Nigerians can sue their governments for failure to provide adequate healthcare delivery.

    He said governments in Nigeria are failing in providing health and security for their citizens. He described the two as inalienable rights of Nigerians.

    According to the rights activist, the Federal Government should henceforth pay the ransom demanded by kidnappers for the release of Nigerians abducted which he said was brought about by failure to secure their lives.

    Falana spoke on Thursday a lecture he delivered at the public presentation of a book on “Financing Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria” held at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). The book is written by Dr. Olaofe Ogundipe.

    Falana in his lecture titled: “The Justiciability of Health as a Human Right” insisted that federal and state governments can fund healthcare for all citizens of the country.

    He argued that Section 17 of the Constitution and National Health Act 2014 made it a matter of imperative for government to foot the medical bills of poor Nigerians, regretting that these are not being implemented.

    He said: “I know the defenders of the status quo are going to say that the federal and state governments cannot afford to fund healthcare for all citizens.

    “My answer is that the governments can, if they are prepared to make healthcare for all citizens a priority. This has been demonstrated by Cuba which has for over 50 years funded free healthcare for all her citizens.

    “That country which is ahead of many developed countries in the area of medical services has no oil, gold or diamond.

    “Since it may be argued that the population of Cuba is only 12 million; what of China which has guaranteed affordable healthcare for the teeming population of 1.4 billion people.

    “If we do not want to follow the example of Cuba and China, we can borrow a leaf from other countries which have extended medical services to the poor and disadvantaged people by opting for medical insurance.

    “The federal government has already opted for the latter and has enacted the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act. Our duty is to make the law work in the overall interest of the masses of our people.”

    On kidnapping, he said: “Let me say, if I am kidnapped today and I pay ransom to secure my freedom, I will surely take FG to court to refund my money because it is the responsibility of government to secure my life.”

     

  • Xenophobia: FG urged to review Nigeria’s foreign policy

    Xenophobia: FG urged to review Nigeria’s foreign policy

    The Federal Government has been advised to review the nation’s foreign policy to protect Nigerians resident in foreign countries against attacks by nationals of their host countries.

    A foreign relations expert, Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, said the failure to review Nigeria’s foreign policy in the last 30 years is jeopardizing its interest in the international community.

    He spoke on Wednesday at a forum, Hard Talk on Africa organized by the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD). The topic for discussion was “Africa and the Tragedy of Xenophobia.”

    Durotoye, who is also the Provost of College of Social and Management Sciences in ABUAD, argued that the ongoing review of the country’s foreign policy by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will halt the racial attacks and correct injustices suffered by Nigerians living abroad.

    Head of Department, International Relations and Diplomacy, ABUAD, Dr. Ajinde Oluwasakin, noted that the late appointment of ambassadors by Buhari must have had negative effect on the country’s economic and commercial relations with other nations.

    Oluwasakin condemned the xenophobic attacks describing it as the highest level of racial discrimination.

     

  • Unilorin, ABUAD scientists partner to develop medicinal rice

    Unilorin, ABUAD scientists partner to develop medicinal rice

    Scientists at the University of Ilorin and their counterparts at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), are finalising arrangements to develop an improved rice variety with medicinal potentials  against cancer.

    A report in the  University of Ilorin Bulletin  on Monday stated that this was  the outcome of the collaboration  between the two institutions for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Feb. 2.

    According to the report, the N50 million project would be carried out over a four-year period and expected to be funded from the National Research Fund of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET-Fund).

    It said  that the project was aimed at enhancing the well-being of rice farmers and improving the health conditions of consumers in the country.

    “The main research collaborators include Prof. Samuel Onasanya,  Education Technology and Training Expert, University of Ilorin; Dr Michael Awolola,  Industrial Chemist, University of Ilorin  and Prof. Amos Onasanya, a Biochemist, Geneticist and Molecular Plant Pathologist.

    “Others are ABUAD dons like Prof. Olarotimi Ojo, a Chemist, and Dr Phillip Okiki, an Animal Health Expert, among others,’’ it said.

    The report quoted  the Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, as saying that the MoU with University of Ilorin was the 13th the institution signed with other universities.

    “We are happy to partner with Unilorin, which is the most peaceful university in the country and we are sure that based on its antecedents, the partnership will work,” he  said.

    It also quoted the Deputy Vice-Chancellor,  Research, Technology and Innovations,  University of Ilorin, as saying  research collaboration was in pursuit of the university’s sustained bid for all-round development of the nation’s education system.

    “The country stands to gain a lot from it,” he  said.

     

  • Nigerian leaders have failed the youths- Afe Babalola

    Nigerian leaders have failed the youths- Afe Babalola

    ***honoured as grand patron of NYCN

    Founder/Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has expressed regrets that Nigerian leaders have failed the youths because they have failed to show good character and lay good examples to the younger generation.

    Babalola who spoke on the campus of the university on Thursday shortly after he was honoured as the Grand Patron of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) lamented what he called “indiscipline in high places in the country” which he said was inimical to national development.

    The legal icon was decorated by the NYCN National President, Ibukun Oluwole, on behalf of 60 million Nigerian youths.

    Babalola received the medal of patronship, a certificate of honour and a giant portrait amidst ovation by ABUAD principal officers, senior management staff and national executive members and state leaders of NYCN.

    The university proprietor said he established ABUAD to give Nigerian youths opportunity to acquire the best of education, learning and character restating his readiness to help build a virile youth population in Nigeria.

    According to him, ABUAD came on stream because of the decay in the public university system adding that his university has provided the best launching pad for the nation’s youths to realize their dreams.

    Babalola said: “Our universities should turn out graduates who are worthy in learning and character and change can only begin from our youths.

    “We don’t want leaders who will be criminals; we don’t want youths who will be looking for jobs but youths who will be self-employed and employers of labour and that is our focus here in ABUAD

    “Those we look up to as of our leaders have failed us, most of the institutions that are also expected to train children in both character and learning have also failed us

    “In my opinion,those regarded as leaders are supposed to be role models who will impact the right type of leadership on the youth of this country

    “This, to me has become necessary as no country can ever attain greatness if her youths are not well molded for the future,we must build our youth to greatness,and not the other way round because the country’s future depends on them.”

    Earlier, NYCN president, Oluwole, said Babalola was honoured as mark of appreciation for his philanthropy, love for education and positive disposition to matters affecting youth across Nigeria.

    Oluwole said ABUAD is Nigeria’s answer to globally-acclaimed universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and Yale advising Nigerians not to send their wards overseas because Babalola had established a university that can be compared with the world’s best.

    The NYCN chief hailed Babalola for assisting the less privileged and building he future of the younger generation saying the ABUAD founder eminently deserved the accolade as the body’s Grand Patron.

    Oluwole said: “ABUAD is a country within a state, we don’t need to go abroad to get experts. Just come over to ABUAD and get what you want. Aare Babalola is a role model for the Nigerians youths and that is why we have decided to make him our Grand Patron.

    “In a country where so many people take their money abroad, Afe Babalola has invested in Nigeria.  Policy formulation is not our problem in Nigeria but policy implementation. We are recommending ABUAD to the Federal Government about diversification of our economy

    “If they have (Nelson) Mandela in South Africa, we have Afe Babalola in Nigeria; if they have (Ronald) Reagan in America, we have Afe Babalola in Nigeria. By now, the name Afe Babalola should have entered the Guinness Book of Records.”

  • Nigerian Universities may be truly autonomous- Afe Babalola

    Nigerian Universities may be truly autonomous- Afe Babalola

     

    Elder Statesman and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has called for a strict obedience of the laws, regulations and the series of court judgments delivered over the years on the limitations on the powers of Visitors, Vice Chancellors and Councils of universities if the age-long and all-important autonomy of the university system is to be preserved in the country.

    Pursuant to this, he advised Government functionaries like Visitors to Federal and State Institutions of Higher Education, Ministers and Commissioners of Education to begin to appreciate that Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are not Departments or appendages of either the Federal or State Ministries of Education.

    Babalola, who delivered the Convocation Lecture, titled “University Administration: the Role of Stakeholders” at the 21st Convocation Ceremonies of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, last week equally stressed that government functionaries who are statutorily empowered to deal with universities must appreciate now than ever before that universities are not Government Parastatals while the Vice Chancellors are not Permanent Secretaries nor Council Members Directors of Parastatals.

    The frontline legal icon set the tone and agenda for the day when he said: “the unconstitutional and illegal violation of University Laws by successive governments, Federal and State, Ministers and Officers of Government makes it imperative that we should examine the role of stakeholders in University Administration”.

    It is a notorious fact that universities have existed for over a thousand years in other parts of the world before the first University in Nigeria, the University College, Ibadan, was established in 1948, less than 70 years ago. This could be one of the reasons why Nigerian universities, like its toddling democracy, are not only still toddling, they are battling with so many teething problems. After all, History has it that the existence of great universities such as University of Constantinople sometimes known as the University of the Palace Hall of Magnaura was founded in the 425 AD, University of Bologna, 1088 while the University of Paris was founded by the Catholic Church in 1150.

    No wonder then that what a teacher in an American or British university considers to be a convention, arising from long usage, is seen by the Nigeria university teachers as a strange development. With all of this at the back of his mind and for Nigerian universities to assume their age-long autonomy, he emphasized the need for Pro Chancellors and Chairmen of University Councils to appreciate the burden on them.

    Babalola, who was Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos between 2000 and 2007 during which he was twice voted by the NUC as the Best Pro Chancellor of Nigerian Universities while UNILAG was rated the University of First Choice, said: “It is necessary to emphasize here that the Pro Chancellors need to appreciate the burden on them. The success, failure, peace and order of the university rest on them and they take responsibility for everything, good or bad. They and their Councils must embark on policies that will ensure the smooth-running of the universities especially those that affect the development of the universities, contracts, employment of good quality lecturers, finances, including income and expenditure and auditing of university account”.

    He added: “The Pro Chancellor’s job is not one which the office-holder can take lightly. As the Chairman of Council, his duty is not merely to attend meetings, collect his allowances and thereafter go to sleep. He must always think about the growth of the university and what he must do at all times to affect it positively.

    “He is different from the Chancellor whose duty is to appear on ceremonial occasions only. He must be concerned about the welfare of the university community. He presides at all Council meetings, statutory Sub Committees of the University and also at Sub-Committees set up by Council. At meetings, he is primus inter pares”.

    Babalola also frowned at the prevailing situation whereby University Councils are dissolved and not re-constituted any time too soon after. To him, “such an unwholesome practice leaves so much to be desired apart from running foul of the intent and spirit of the law (establishing the universities)”.

    He recalled his experience in May 2004, when Councils of Universities were dissolved by Radio announcement and were not re-constituted for over 11 months as a result of which the Universities lost the steam of progress. According to him, “All those who were working on university projects under the new policy stopped work because they claimed that there was no guarantee of prompt payment anymore. It was a similar experience in efforts to re-organize income-generating units. The Endowment campaign stopped”.

    He added: “The Developers in Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) projects left sites unceremoniously because of loss of confidence. I am also aware that the Vice Chancellor had problems with other areas of administration including but not limited to promotion, appointment and request for approvals for critically important actions to make the university function properly. It is my advice that there should not be undue delay in constituting the Councils of Universities”.

    Besides, the Octogenarian would not understand how successive Presidents and State Governors are wont to dissolve University Councils on assumption of office just as they dissolve those of other Parastatals of the government.

    For example, he recalled that when Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua took over as the President of Nigeria in 2007, he descended on the University of Lagos which was constituted in 2004 and which had one year more in office. The Secretary to the Government announced the immediate dissolution of all parastatals including University Councils. The same trend continued when on July 16, 2015, the Federal Government announced the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the Governing Boards of Federal Parastatals, Agencies and Institutions.

    By this announcement which was reminiscent of a similar announcement made by the administration of late President Yar’Adua, the Governing Councils of all Universities were dissolved. This action was one of several taken by successive governments over the years which have contributed to the decline in the educational fortunes of the country.

    As it were, it would appear that over the years, government has not been able to see the intricate and time-tested nexus between stable university administration and stability in the educational sector. A situation in which the tenure of Governing Councils of Universities is not secured and the composition thereof is seen as an opportunity to reward political loyalties is not one that augurs well for our Universities.  By law, University Vice-Chancellors have inviolable tenure of five years. They should be allowed to complete their tenure or proper statutory and transparent procedures be adopted, if they are accused of any wrong doings.

    That is the way it is done in other climes. Ours cannot be different. We have to do things the way they are done elsewhere for us to achieve positive and pleasant results.