From News Editor
The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has been ranked by the Times Higher Education ranking of universities, as No 84th in the world and 3rd in Africa respectively
The institution is also ranked 1st in Africa in (SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy), 1st in Africa ( SDG 13 -Climate Change), 2nd in Africa (SDG 1 – No Poverty), 3rd in Africa (SDG 17 – Partnership for Goals).
The Times Higher Education also ranked the institution 1st in Nigeria (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025), 1st in Nigeria (SDG 1 – No Poverty), 1st in Nigeria ( SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy), 1st in Nigeria (SDG 13 – Climate Change) and 1st in Nigeria (SDG 17 – Partnership for Goals).
Speaking to newsmen at the ABUAD campus in Ado- Ekiti on Friday while making the disclosure, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, said
that the dream of the university has been achieved as ABUAD has navigated its way to the very top in the comity of universities nationally and internationally within the first 15 years of its existence.
“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 Aare Babalola, the Acting Vice Chancellor quoted his interaction Sometimes in 2015 with the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. 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 the learned Jurist, the Founder 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 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”.
” 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 for immediate reconstruction 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 re-construction of the Ado-ljan 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 audience as a result of which it would win more laurels for the state and the nation at large”.