The founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has revealed how the university has continued to stand out since it was first ranked the Best Nigerian University three years ago, maintaining its status as the best in the country for the third consecutive year.
ABUAD achieved the top position in Nigeria in 2022, 2023, and now in 2024. This year, the university also earned the distinction of being ranked first globally for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy, Outreach Programs, and Stewardship Programs, with scores of 98 percent and 98.2 percent, respectively.
Babalola attributed the university’s sustained national and global excellence to the quality of graduates it produces through impactful education and training, which focus not only on academic degrees but also on character and industrious molding. The legal icon and former two-term Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos made these remarks while briefing journalists on ABUAD’s ranking achievements.
“We are here today to share some good news for the third consecutive year. Part of it is that our 15-year-old university has again been ranked as the number one university in Nigeria and number 142 in education globally,” Babalola said. “This year, our ranking has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria and is now global.”
Babalola highlighted the university’s quality curriculum and stable academic calendar as key factors in its rise in rankings. He also emphasized the role of education in addressing various societal issues such as ignorance, extremism, poverty, religious bigotry, and tribalism.
He added, “It is my conviction that if people can emulate the type of complete and innovative education system, hard work, honesty, and faith exhibited in ABUAD, Nigeria would be better for it.”
Encouraging his staff to see the current ranking as a call to duty, Babalola urged them to strive for even greater achievements in the future, aiming to be number one globally in all areas.
In an interview, ABUAD Vice-Chancellor Prof. Smaranda Olarinde commended Babalola for his significant contributions to the education sector through the establishment of the university. Olarinde, who has served as VC for two years after acting for three years, pledged that the institution’s management and staff would continue to justify Babalola’s investment by working towards making ABUAD one of the top 100 universities in the world.
She said, “In ABUAD, our role in the educational sector in the country and in Africa is to transform the entire educational system. Our founder believes that you do not transform something by doing everything the usual way; you transform it by doing things in an excellent and uncommon way.”
Olarinde emphasized the importance of producing well-rounded graduates who are equipped with both academic knowledge and strong character. She noted that ABUAD, since its inception 15 years ago, has consistently been ranked high by global bodies like the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking and Nigerian government agencies.
She added, “Out of thousands of qualified universities globally, ABUAD has always effectively come ahead of several other universities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. We are just starting.”
Looking ahead, Olarinde vowed that ABUAD would continue to strive for excellence, with the goal of being ranked among the top 100 universities globally. She described her current role as a unique call to service and promised to leverage her extensive experience to fulfill her responsibilities effectively.