Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, urged universities nationwide to take a cue from Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) on how to operate effectively.
ABUAD has demonstrated a superb model of a 21st-century university with its global record of academic success, according to Obasanjo, who complimented the institution for its intimidating academic and scholastic exploits within 15 years of its founding.
The former president remarked when he visited ABUAD’s founder, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), ahead of his birthday today at the institution’s campus in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, according to a statement from Mr. Tunde Olofintola, Director of Corporate Affairs for the institution.
Obasanjo noted that ABUAD’s meteoric rise and global visibility within the shortest time of its existence was not a fluke but the cumulative products of Babalola’s dedication, vision, commitment, and determination.
He hailed the university’s workers for keying into the founder’s vision of establishing a 21st century institution that would teach others how ivory towers should be run and how to raise a new generation of leaders.
Obasanjo recalled how Babalola audaciously transformed the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to become a model among federal universities in the country when he was its pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.
He said: “I will not forget what he did for education during my tenure as President by accepting to be Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos.
“During his seven-year stint, he made the university to become a model among federal universities in this country. His impact on UNILAG remains until today.”
The ex-President described Babalola as a man of surprises and Midas torch, urging Nigerians to also learn from the ABUAD founder “how he has kept himself active from head to toe, even at his age”.
“My being asked to speak here today reminds me of the case of one Baba Ijo (the President of the Men’s Fellowship) who got to a church and, without notice, he was asked to pray. “