NUC grants accreditation to 13 courses at ABUAD

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has officially given full accreditation to 13 undergraduate programmes across four colleges at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

Among the programmes that received full accreditation are Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering in the College of Engineering; Medicine & Surgery and Dentistry in the College of Medicine & Health Sciences; Industrial Chemistry and Agriculture in the College of Sciences; and Intelligence & Security Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, and Political Science in the College of Social & Management Sciences.

In a statement, ABUAD’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, said, “This full accreditation aligns with the provision of Section 10 (1) of the Education (National Minimum Standard & Establishment of Institutions) Act Cap B3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which empowers the National Universities Commission, the Regulatory Authority for University Education in Nigeria, to lay down Minimum Academic Standards for all Academic Programmes taught in Nigerian Universities and to accredit such Programmes.”

He explained that based on the Act’s guidelines, the NUC carried out accreditation of ABUAD’s academic programmes in October and November of 2024.

In a letter dated April 30, 2024, addressed to the Founder and Chancellor of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, the NUC affirmed that the accreditation granted to the 13 academic programmes is valid for five years.

While celebrating the positive development in Ado-Ekiti, a delighted Babalola stated, “Today marks another milestone in the history of our university. We started well. We are doing very well. Our rating as No. 1 in the world in SDG 7, No. 1 in the world in outreach with a score of 98%, No. 1 in the world in stewardship with a score of 98.2%, and No. 1 among all the 264 federal, state, and private universities in Nigeria for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024, by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THEIRS), is further confirmation that we are doing well. Indeed, we have overshot our expectations.”

He further said, “And we will continue to do well with the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the students, the teachers, our dear parents who believe so much in us, and of course the regulatory bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Health, the NUC, the MDCN, the Council for Legal Education, NSE, COREN, CIBN, and ICAN, among several others.”

The former pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) expressed immense joy over this uncommon success, noting that while accreditation denials often lead to protests in other universities, “our case is pleasantly different.”

The statement continued, ”Undoubtedly this encouraging news of accreditation will surely buoy and fast-track Babalola’s 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.”

Also reacting to the notable milestone, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Olasupo A. Ijabadeniyi said that achieving full accreditation for 13 courses further confirms ABUAD’s status as Nigeria’s Number 1 university, as recently declared by the widely respected Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

According to him, “This is more heartwarming and commendable because it is coming from the NUC, the sole regulatory authority for university education in Nigeria.”

He added, “That this is coming from the NUC now when we are still celebrating our ranking by the Times Higher Education Rankings is providential. It also shows the quality of education on offer in our increasingly famous 21st-century university. This certainly is good news for all parents and all our well-wishers. We promise them more of such good news,” the acting VC said.