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Tag: Afe Babalola University

  • ABUAD to launch ‘Air Purifier’ in another giant stride

    ABUAD to launch ‘Air Purifier’ in another giant stride

    • By Tunde Olofintila

    Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, is set to hit global headlines again as students of the 15-year-old university ranked by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings among the Best 100 Universities in the world and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, are set to launch “Air Purifier”, an ICT device/solution for gauging air humidity, in February next year, the first of its kind in Africa.

    The launch under the supervision of New Horizons, the world’s largest ICT training organization established in 1982, is the product of ABUAD/New Horizons’ partnership and determination to ensure the production of entrepreneurship-minded graduates and not those with mere academic certification that will be shopping for jobs after graduation.

    Speaking over the weekend when the university’s Founder & Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, was conducted round the ultra-modern Information Communication Technology Centre equipped with 150 sophisticated computers designed to further boost performances of students and lecturers of the university, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano, said that through the launch, ABUAD students will be turned into marketable innovators while the attention of the world would be shifted to ABUAD.

    Akano emphasized that the launch will largely be predicated on “Internet of Things”, IOT, a concept which underscores the use of the internet to monitor virtually anything, adding that it will be beneficial to ABUAD students in many ways, including but not limited to the following:

    •          The launch and its continuous application will build the requisite confidence, focus and discipline in ABUAD students in the ever-competitive global job market, stressing that in the contemporary world, the would-be employers look beyond university certificates before offering their jobs to prospective employees,

    •          Product developed after the launch could be commercialized,

    •                      The launch will position ABUAD as a university that is entrepreneurship-focused, a university that will be producing job creators and not mere job seekers, and

    •          The launch will ensure that every student attending the university benefits from digital empowerment and practical exposure expected of a world-class institution of Higher Education.

    Speaking on a global note, Akano lamented that most graduates in contemporary times do not have the required requite skills the industries are looking for in addition to university degrees.

    His words: “Graduates of nowadays do not have what the industries require: skills in addition to academic certification. It must always be realised that as good as academic certificates are, they are not sufficient. We are therefore out to marry certification with the requisite skills required in today’s employment market”.

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    He added: “For graduates of today to thrive, they need ICT skills in their respective areas of study/specialization. ABUAD was established to teach others how a university, properly so-called, should be run. Our partnership will strengthen the ABUAD franchise in the comity of universities globally.

    “We want to put ABUAD in the Guiness Book of Records by ensuring that it will be the first university in Nigeria to have 2,500 computers in one hall. This will be in addition to producing and providing solutions of world standards. We want the world to shift attention to ABUAD. It is possible because we have done it in 90 different countries around the world, including USA, UK, France, Germany, China, Hungry and South Africa among others”.

    In Nigeria, New Horizons operates in 150 Universities and High Schools, training over 100,000 students yearly. Some of the New Horizons’ partnering universities include but are not limited to Babcock University, Ilishan, Remo, Redeemer University, Ede, BOWEN University, Iwo, BELLS University, Ota and Lead City University, Ibadan as well as University of Lagos.

    Reacting to the salutary development of the launching of Air Purifier in February next year, the elated Founder & Chancellor of the university, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, LL. D (London), Fellow, King’s College, London, FNAE, said the  launch will be a further realization of his dream and desire to make the university a shining example of how a university, properly so-called, should be run.

    According to him, the avalanche of national and international Awards, accolades and recognitions as well as encomiums so far showered on the university by notable Regulatory Bodies and Educational stakeholders have already confirmed his position.

    For example, the National Universities Commission, the Regulator Body for University Education in Nigeria, has acknowledged the university as “a model, benchmark and reference point” as well as “the pride of University system in Nigeria” and endorsed by the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) as “the most successful private university in Nigeria”. UNESCO also acknowledged it as “a world class institution of Higher Education”.

    The former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos recalled what the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, said about him when he visited the university in June 2014.

    After touring the length and breadth of the university, the former CJN came to the ultra-modern College of Law Building. Looking round the massive building, the learned Jurist took a deep breath and asked rather rhetorically: “Aare Afe Babalola, what else do you want? If it is money, you have it. If it is goodwill, you have it in quantum. If it is success in your career, you are by any means successful. I don’t know what else you want to become”.

    Replying the learned Jurist, I said: “I thank God for what he has enabled me to achieve in my lifetime. My wish, my hope and prayer are that this university must, in my lifetime, be recognized by the international body as one of the Best 100 in the world. So, I still have a lot of work to do to bring this dream into fruition”.

    Now that the university has been ranked by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings among the Best 100 Universities in the world, Babalola has shifted the goal post of his dream and ambition about his university: He said his dream, prayer, wish and hope now are that his university, ABUAD, should be ranked among the Best 50 in the world before his very eyes on the planet earth.

    May his dream, prayer, wish and hope come true and before his very eyes.

    •Olofintila, ABUAD’s Corporate Affairs Director, writes from Ado-Ekiti.

  • ABUAD, firm to partner in tackling petrol tanker fire accidents

    ABUAD, firm to partner in tackling petrol tanker fire accidents

    The Managing Director of Hoist Life Safety System Limited, Mr. Adeleye Oladimeji, has said his firm and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) will partner to tackle incessant tanker fire accidents.

    Oladimeji announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    He said Hoist Life Safety System would train a team of officials from the university to acquire the right knowledge on how to break a hydrocarbon chain on a vehicle carrying inflammable substances involved in an accident.

    The managing director said the Federal Government had expressed concern about the problem of incessant tanker fire accidents and that such incidents needed to be nipped in the bud.

    He assured Nigerians that such accidents would soon become history across the country.

    “That problem is purely chemistry. With our partnership with Afe Babalola University that is coming on board, we will be able to tackle that, because it is of concern to the Federal Government and we have the solution.

    “We have done the mathematics and had some experiments on that. I can tell you that even in the oil and gas industry, it is something they do almost daily.

    “They use a particular solvent to lift the crude from a marginal field and what we are looking at is what concentration will be enough that when added to the payload of fuel trucks, it will be able to carry the additional marginal load. That is what will be released as soon as there is an accident.

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    “We have had cases where firefighters, who were responding to a fire emergency, ran into trouble because they didn’t receive the right information. But with the right information coming from the machine-to-machine communication, SMS alert, the response will be swifter and firefighting will be better done.

    “Our alarm system will get to asset owners, irrespective of their locations, whether at home, office or shop. They will get the alert that something is evolving that may consume their assets.

    According to him, this innovation is merely replacing the call dialer with wireless equipment.

    “We are only using modern technology to do what is already known to the system,” he stated.

    Oladimeji said his firm was also trying to improve the communication between property owners and fire safety equipment handlers, who are the responders.

    “The interest of Holysis is not only on the Federal Fire Service, but also in all the stakeholders involved in fire service.

    “What we are trying to do is to create a distributive network, thereby moving closer to the public, with stations closer to the public or mobile fire appliances closer to them to enhance the response time,” Oladimeji added.

  • Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    Afe Babalola University: A flourishing empire of note

    By Tunde Olofintila

    The Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, Ojo Cantonment, Lagos, Brigadier-General Jerry IB Manjang, has described the increasingly famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, as a successful and flourishing empire.

    Manjang who led a 51-man team of Officers and Students of the College to ABUAD yesterday in continuation of the College’s “environmental research visit to some selected states of the federation” predicated his position on what the university’s Founder & Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has made of the university in quality and functional education, healthcare delivery, human capacity development, employment and food security  within the university’s 15 years of its existence.

    The One-Star General said that with what he saw during the tour of the university,  Babalola has impacted many people in different callings in Nigeria and humanity in general.

    His words: “After touring the serene campus, the ABUAD Enterprise Farms, the  Independent Power Plant, the Industrial Park and the ultra-modern 400-bed Multi- System Hospital which has been endorsed by leading Healthcare Stakeholders as “the most well-equipped Hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa”, we saw the excellent work you have been doing to ensure human capital development and food security”.

    He added: “With the way the students we met on our way related with us, I have seen the good works the university has been doing in the lives of our youths.

    “For me, I have watched you from afar. But today, I am sitting next to you. Your life has imparted many in Nigeria and humanity in general. You are here to receive us personally. I Never expected that. I am highly delighted by your uncommon humility”.

    Commenting on Babalola’s contributions to Human Capital Development, he said: “In the area of Human Capital Development, I saw what you are doing to empower and liberate Nigerian youths. You do not only train them, but you also provide them with accommodation. You also feed them free.

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    “And at the end of their training, you give them starter packs and seed money to start their own Agri-businesses. It is my opinion that whoever benefits from your youth empowerment programme and is not liberated, has a problem”.

    Manjang’s position was corroborated by two of his junior colleagues: Major M. Hamji and Major WE Abanji.

    According to Hamji: “Aare Afe Babalola has taught all of us a big lesson on what we can do to ensure job creation, how to eradicate poverty and optimize security not only in Ekiti State, but also in the country at large.

    According to him, if there is one Afe Babalola in each of the country’s other five geo-political zones, there would be no unemployment or poverty in Nigeria as everyone would be gainfully employed with no time for frivolities or criminalities.

    Abanji, in a voice suggestive that she has already become a student of Afe Babalola’s Youth Empowerment Programme and Agri-business said she is enthusiastically looking forward to starting her own Green Farm in the nearest future.

    Responding, Babalola, who thanked Manjang and his team for visiting his university, wondered why people should be queuing for rice, beans and other palliatives in a country blessed with good arable land and supportive climate for anybody to grow food and feed himself, sell leftovers or give to others.

    He pleaded with those giving out food items and particularly those queuing up to receive them not to turn the country into a country of beggars amid plenty.

    Waxing biblical, the former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, counselled that Nigerians owe it a duty to God to work so that they could eat, adding that “a person who does not work does not deserve to eat”.

    On the place of quality and functional education in the life of a people, he said: “Education is critically important to all of us. Once one has quality education, he/she is made, and it is bye-bye to tribalism, hunger, unemployment, bigotry and extremism”.

    He commended the Nigerian Army for its well-known discipline which he confirmed he saw first-hand when he was conferred with the Honourary Degree of the elite Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in 2016

    He words: “When I arrived Kaduna, I was surprised to see a “battalion” of fully dressed Military Officers waiting to receive me at the Kaduna Airport.  They ushered us to the Reception Hall of the Airport and they insisted that I and my team must eat before we proceeded to the Academy.  I told them I had had breakfast before leaving home.  But the leader of the team insisted that we must eat because that was the order from his Superior Officer. 

    “As we were going to the NDA, the entire road was lined with fully dressed military men.  When we got to the Main Building of the NDA, we were ushered into the office of the Commandant who, together with other leaders of the Academy, received us very warmly. 

    “During the Convocation and Award ceremony, I was pleasantly surprised that the hall was not only very quiet, but also nobody left his seat throughout the duration of the Convocation ceremony.  To me, that was the peak of orderliness and discipline. 

    “Before the 2016 NDA Convocation, I believed that my university, ABUAD, was the epitome of order, orderliness and discipline.  As a matter of fact, some people used to taunt us that our university is more of a military institution. But with what I saw in Kaduna that day, I gave, and I still give kudos to the military for its discipline. And we are taking after that here in our university”.

    According to him, people are not doing well because they lack discipline, but the Nigerian Army is the master of discipline.

    He hoped that one day, the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army will be embraced by the populace, adding that “the day the level of discipline in the Nigerian Army and ABUAD goes round Nigeria, there will be no problems anymore”.

    In her welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, recalled how the university navigated its way from a modest beginning when Academic works commenced on Monday, January 4, 2010, to a university of global acclaim which was recently ranked on June 18, 2025 by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings as No.84 in the world, No. 3 in Africa and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

    • Olofintila is ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs

  • FG lauds ABUAD’s global recognition in 2025 Times Varsity Rankings

    FG lauds ABUAD’s global recognition in 2025 Times Varsity Rankings

    The Federal Government has hailed the Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, and the entire academic and non-academic staff of the institution on its recent global recognition.

    In the latest Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (2025), ABUAD achieved a historic milestone by emerging as the 84th best university in the world, 3rd in Africa and maintaining its position as 1st in Nigeria for the fourth consecutive year—2022 through 2025.

    In a letter addressed to Babalola SAN, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, praised the legal luminary and philanthropist for his unwavering dedication to educational excellence and national development.

    It reads: “Your achievement is not only a personal triumph but a national milestone. It is inspiring to witness your decade-long dream, once expressed to former Chief Justice Hon. Justice Tanko Mohammed, become a global reality within your lifetime.”

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    According to a statement by the Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister also lauded the collective efforts of ABUAD’s academic and non-academic workforce.

    Alausa said: “This global recognition could not have been possible without the dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence by the entire staff of ABUAD. You have demonstrated that with the right vision, passion, and professionalism, Nigerian institutions can lead on the world stage.”

    The Minister noted that the outstanding global ranking was not merely a cause for celebration, but a renewed call to service both for ABUAD and the broader Nigerian education sector.

    “This accomplishment is a catalyst that should propel, inspire, and encourage deeper commitment to quality, functional, and globally competitive education,” Dr. Alausa noted.

    While reiterating its commitment to supporting forward-thinking institutions like ABUAD, the minister affirmed the readiness of the government to collaborate further in promoting educational innovation, research, and sustainable development across the country

  • ABUAD makes history, ranks 84th best university globally

    ABUAD makes history, ranks 84th best university globally

    Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has achieved a major milestone, securing the 84th position globally and 3rd in Africa in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings.

    The institution also topped several categories across the continent, emerging 1st in Africa for SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), 2nd for SDG 1 (No Poverty), and 3rd for SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

    Nationally, ABUAD maintained its position as Nigeria’s number one university for four consecutive years—2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025—while leading the country in all four SDG categories mentioned.

    Announcing the rankings during a press briefing at the university campus in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Olasupo Ijabadeniyi said the latest achievements affirm ABUAD’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and social impact.

    “We are proud that in just 15 years, ABUAD has risen to the top echelon of universities globally and across Africa. The vision of our founder, Aare Afe Babalola, to build a world-class institution is now a reality,” he said.

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    He said, “Today, with the cooperation of and quality advice from Regulatory Bodies such as the NUC, Council for Legal Education, Ministry of Education, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), ICAN, CPN, PCN, and NMCN among others, the cooperation of parents and the commitment of our staff, the university has recorded spectacular achievements in Law, Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sciences and Accounting among several others.

    Prof Ijabadeniyi who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde, expressed the happiness of the founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola on the new ranking of ABUAD.

    Alluding to the fulfillment of the vision of Babalola, the Acting Vice Chancellor recalled his interaction in 2015 with the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed when he visited the university.

    He said: “After touring the length and breadth of the university, he came to the ultra-modern College of Law building. Looking round the massive building, the learned Jurist took a deep breath and asked rather rhetorically: “Aare Afe Babalola, what else do you want? If it is money, you have it. If it is goodwill, you have it in quantum. If it is success in your career, you are by any means successful. I don’t know what else you want to become”.

    “Replying to the Jurist, Babalola said, “I thank God for what he has enabled me to achieve. My wish, my hope and prayer is that this university must, in my lifetime, be recognised by the international body as one of the best 100 in the world. So, I still have a lot of work to do to bring this dream into fruition”.

    ” And that is the whole essence of our being here today. That wish, that hope, and prayer as expressed by Aare Afe Babalola to Hon. Justice Tanko Mohammed in 2015 has become a stark reality before our very eyes.”

    Prof Ijabadeniyi, however, called on the federal government to immediately reconstruct of Ado-Ijan road, which he said has become a nightmare for motorists.

    He recounted his intervention on the road from 2009 to 2019, saying further support has gone beyond his capacity as a result of the quantum of projects he has embarked upon across the state.

    He said, “The role played by Aare Afe Babalola in the maintenance of the stretch of Ado-ljan Road from St. Paul’s Church to this university between 2009 and 2019 is in the public domain.

    “The same goes for the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport, where he has invested billions of Naira to make it functional.

    “The maintenance of Ado-ljan Road and the functionality of the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport is certainly beyond his capacity, bearing in mind the quantum of projects he has embarked upon in the overall interest of the state.

    “Because of this, the time has come for both the Federal and Ekiti State Governments to see to the immediate reconstruction of the Ado-Ijan Road and the completion of the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport.

    “If the university is more accessible, it will attract patronage from both local and international audiences as a result of which it would win more laurels for the state and the nation at large”.

  • ABUAD graduate who fell from Cocoa House, buried

    ABUAD graduate who fell from Cocoa House, buried

    A 22-year-old graduate of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Feranmi Akin-Akinye, who fell from 26-storey Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan, has been pronounced dead and buried in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    Akin-Akinye was undergoing training in cybersecurity at a company based on the eighth floor of the iconic building.

    The Nation gathered that the trainee died immediately he suffered the fall.

    A source close to the deceased’s family informed The Nation that his remains were received by the family on Tuesday and immediately buried.

    The source described the deceased as lively and easy going.

    The source also lay to rest the speculations of suicide, noting that the parents are responsible and have means of livelihood to take care of the family.

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    It was gathered that, although the father is based abroad, the boy alongside his two other siblings, are under the care of their mother who is well known and respected in the neighbourhood. She was also described as a pillar of support to many individuals aside from taking care of the family.

    The Nation reports that, panic spread across the vicinity of Cocoa House, Ibadan, on Monday morning when the young man fell from the 24th-floor, museum section of the building.

    According to the Source, the boy had resumed to work on Monday but went with some of his colleagues to the top floor in a bid to mount a banner on the wall of the building, as part of a work-related assignment, but during the process, the frame he put his leg on in a bid to stand, was too weak to hold him up, falling accidentally from the 24th floor at the instance.

    The source said: “The fall resulted in multiple severe injuries. Despite efforts by emergency responders to rush him to the University College Hospital (UCH), he was confirmed dead. The family has since taken custody of his remains.

    “He was immediately rushed to Adeoyo state hospital but he was already dead as his head and other parts had smashed on the roof of the security post before landing on the floor. The family had gone to recover the corpse from the morgue. He has been buried.”

    Another source who also spoke on the condition of anonymity alleged that the young man was instructed to mount a large wall banner at the top of Cocoa House—a task typically reserved for professionals equipped with the proper tools and machinery.

    “I blame the company for his death. He came from a good home, was very humble and respectful. He had a car his parents gave him, but you’d never know from the way he carried himself. They asked him to mount a giant banner meant for professionals, and because of his humility, he complied,” the neighbour said.

    The neighbour also claimed that following the incident, the company attempted to downplay the tragedy.

    “They said he was taken to the emergency ward even though he had already died. His mother wasn’t even contacted by the company—it was a random person who called her. When 32 FM, which operates within Cocoa House, tried to take photos, they were prevented. His body was quickly covered with a cloth. I heard his body was badly mangled,” the neighbour added.

    He added that the deceased was buried on Tuesday by his church, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Apata Branch.

    It was learnt that his father’s siblings are considering legal action against the company for alleged negligence.

    Effort to reach the mother of the deceased simply addressed as Mrs Adjie was abortive as at the time of this report as the source said the family residence around Apata area of Ibadan had been shut.

    The mother, and the other siblings, it was gathered had been relocated to Lagos in a bid to control the sympathisers who have been thronging the residence since the incident on Monday.

    The Nation reports that the management of Cocoa House, in an earlier statement signed by Head of Branding and Communication for Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Victor Ayetoro, acknowledged the incident but was silent on the victim’s identity or specific details at the time.

    The company had expressed deep concern over the development and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall, saying “further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

  • Afe Babalola rehabilitates two mentally-ill orphans

    THE founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has put smiles on the faces of two mentally-ill orphans in Ekiti State.

    The lucky orphans from Kogi and Ondo states were taken from the street and rehabilitated by Babalola in his university’s multi-system hospital’s intensive Medicare after 15 years of mental derangement.

    Speaking on Thursday at a ceremony organised to reunite them with their families at ABUAD, Babalola said he had to show pity after discovering them in their pitiable lunatic condition.

    He said ABUAD got approval from Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi about the university’s intention to take lunatics off Ekiti streets for rehabilitation.

    The legal icon said his unquenchable thirst to give hope to the hopeless and help the helpless propelled him to pick the orphans for rehabilitation.

    Babalola added that he derived pleasure from donating to humanity for the benefit of mankind, describing his philanthropic gesture as God’s gift and innate.

    “I think what I am doing is natural. I remember my mother used to scold me that I was a thriftless person. I am just used to giving and helping others, particularly the poor and the sick.

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    “I established this university and hospital to fight poverty through philanthropy. I am only happy when people around me are happy.

    “What I did was to display passion for humanity and I believe we can all do same. The lunatics on the streets are humans; don’t stone or discriminate against them. Instead of doing that, bring them to ABUMSH for treatment.

    “From today, these two ladies have become my daughters and I will establish them with businesses that will make them successful in life,” he said.

    Babalola urged the people not to stigmatise mental illness patients.

    The ABUAD founder also advised the government to borrow a leaf from him and replicate such gesture in helping the destitute.

    ABUAD’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Sylvester Ojo said Babalola had replicated the same gesture through scholarships, free legal services to the oppressed and giving funds to farmers in the 16 local government areas of the state to boost food production.

  • 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.

     

  • FIIRO, firm to produce brake pad, other vehicle parts

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in conjunction with Mulifeong Motors Limited (MML) has sealed a deal to start commercial production of vehicle brake pad and other motor parts and accessories.

    This followed the memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties in Lagos recently.

    Justifying the need for the business deal, the Acting Director General/CEO, FIIRO, DR. Chima Igwe, disclosed that the Institute working with other research and development bodies has produced brake pad technologies, battery manufacturing technologies, spare parts and vehicular component manufacturing, adding that spark plug refurbishing, lead refinery and ceramic component for transmitting electrical cables were also achieved.

    According to FIIRO boss, “The Institute has adopted strategic collaboration with relevant institutions in both the public and private sectors to ensure effective delivery on its mandate. This is in line with the current international best practices to promote effective public-private partnership with a view to reducing production cost, synergising to achieve best results through shared facilities and human resources as well as promoting projects and programmes of mutual benefits.

    “In recent years the Institute has collaborated with a number of private companies and institutions locally and internationally which include May & Baker Nigeria Plc., NASCO Foods, Honeywell Group, Covenant University, Landmark University, Afe Babalola University, Lagos Polytechnic, Lancaster University UK, and most recently GIZ/Bosch, a German company to mention a few.”

    Responding, the Chairman/Managing Director, MML, Princess Mulikat Sanni, stated that her mission for Nigeria was to manufacture made in Nigeria car and not just assembling cars like Nissan, Toyota and some other.

    She said, “We need to put our own plans to action. We need to put the right policies in place and we must enforce it, otherwise it will be a mirage. What happened to our Steel rolling mills? We must put it into function to sustain the auto industry.

    “We used to have over seven vehicle assembling plants and all those things fizzled out overnight. Nigeria is so blessed that we can manufacture complete vehicles from the scratch to finishing without importing anything. With this MOU, we will have no business importing brake pad anymore. With what you have in FIIRO, we will move this nation forward,” she assured, even as she pointed out that the collaboration with FIIRO was to add value to what FIIRO has, stressing that it would impact positively on the nation at large.

  • Afe Babalola makes case for reputable Law Colleges to prepare Law graduates for bar examinations

    Frontline Legal icon and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has advocated that reputable Colleges/Faculty of Law in Nigerian Universities should henceforth be saddled with the responsibility of training Law graduates preparatory for their final Call to Bar Examinations at the Law School.

    With this proposed arrangement, Law graduates from Nigerian universities will proceed to these reputable Colleges/Faculties of Law, Like ABUAD College of Law, with up-to-date facilities and Faculty members of international repute for their post-LL.B training and only go to the Law School to write their Call to Bar Examinations without being residential student in the Law School as is currently the case.

    This way, Babalola, who spoke over the weekend at a reception in honour of the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Ciroma, SAN, said Nigeria would have borrowed a leaf from the practice in England, thereby frontally addressing the  problem of funding and myriad other problems which the Law School had had to contend with over the years.

    According to him, the problem of paucity of facilities and accommodation space have been some of the major problems the Law School had had to content with and its attendant bottleneck of having backlog of students because it does not have the capacity and the resources to cope with the number of Law graduates being churned out by the various Law Colleges/Faculties annually.

    Babalola who lamented that the Nigerian Bar is different from what he met when he was called to the Bar in 1963 or what it was before he made up his mind to study Law in the first instance, said a lot need to be done to turn things around for better in the profession for it to recapture the reverence the legal profession used to attract and enjoy many decades ago.

    Now fishing in most familiar waters, Babalola recalled how many lawyers have been asking for the abrogation of the SAN title in last few years. Their grievance being that they apply year-after-year with as many as 70 qualifying for the award every year. But at the end of the day, the Legal Privileges Committee of the Bar which admits Legal Practitioners into SAN-ship,  would lean so heavily on the law that says they cannot appoint more than 15 in any particular year, thereby leaving (having) a backlog of those who are qualified, but not awarded, almost on a yearly basis.

    The question then arises: if a person is qualified at a particular point in time, at what point does he become unqualified again? Perhaps one may ask those who are charged with the duty of appointing 15 out of 60 or 70 qualified practitioners what criteria they use to jettison those who are qualified. The problem here is that without knowing it, this practice of appointing 15 out of the several that are qualified has led to corruption, sectionalism and favouritism and corner-cutting by some junior lawyers, thereby lowering the standard of practice in the country.

    That practice has unwittingly led to the “man-know-man” syndrome and other extraneous influences where those who appoint Legal Practitioners to SAN-ship tend to favour those they know ahead of those they don’t know very well.

    Nigeria should copy England where the idea of the silk (SAN title), the equivalent of QC in England was borrowed from root, stem and branch. From time immemorial in England, no matter the number that qualify in a particular year, be it 60 or 70, all of them would be appointed, leaving no room for any backlog. Nigeria must do the needful in this regard if it must not be left behind.

    His words: “The practice in those days was that successful Legal Practitioners are invited to for appointments on the Bench. Now, the standard I met then is not the standard any more. Only 10 years after my arrival, I was invited to the Bench by Hon. Justice Oyemade, the Chief Judge of Western Region. I told him I still needed some money of my own. You know the impression then was that when you go to the Bench you will be corrupt”.

    We added:”We were hearing of cases of some Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal being removed on grounds of, according to them, corruption…. I did not know of a successful legal practitioner who wanted to go to the Bench then. The practice which I know is that when you are a successful practitioner, you want to retire to the Bench and adorn it with your years of knowledge of legal practice.

    “So all over the world, the best judges are the best legal practitioners, that is why in England up till today, judges are recruited from Queen’s Counsel (the equivalent of our Senior Advocates of Nigeria), who have distinguished themselves. Now, the standard I met then is not the standard any more”.

    But today in Nigeria, many extraneous qualifications have crept into the appointment of judges so much so that people working in public limited liability companies have been appointed judges to satisfy geographical spread.

    His words:”Our Bench must be populated with qualified people who have practiced Law and not just who rose from the Magistrate Courts to the High Courts. When you read some judgments by some High Court Judges, you wonder and marvel because they are not more than the pronouncements of Magistrates”.

    He added: “In England, it is only those with QC, the equivalent of our Senior Advocates that are invited to occupy the Bench and this has helped the quality of judgments in England over the years. Why can’t we do same here? It will help our practice of Law and the quality of judgments from the Bench”.

    Babalola therefore suggested that if people who qualify to be made Senior Advocates of Nigeria are not restricted in number, there would be a ready pool of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who have made good money in their practice years, and ready to accept elevation to the Bench like the late Hon. Justice Taslim Olawale Elias, and the late Hon. Justice Augustine Nnamani thereby increasing/improving quality of judges and reducing corruption.

    He thanked Ciroma for visiting ABUAD, adding that it washis love for quality and functional education that propelled him to visit ABUAD for the first time. Babalola commended the DG-Law School for being on top in several ways: A Professor of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and above the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School.

    Ciroma commended Babalola and the ABUAD community for changing the face of Education in Nigeria within the short history of the university, stressing that if more people invest in Education, Nigeria will be the better for it.

     

    • Olofintila writes in from Ado-Ekiti