Adebayo Adenrele
The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has emerged as the 84th best university in the world, 3rd in Africa and 1st in Nigeria.
The acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Olasupo Ijabadeniyi disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti at a press conference over the weekend.
Professor Ijabadeniyi, stated that the recognition by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 report, is attributed to the resilience, hard work and leadership of the renowned legal luminary and founder of the University, Aare Afe Babalola.
Ijabadeniyi noted that ABUAD is the only fully residential university in Nigeria and the only Institution with students from all the 36 States of the federation and foreign countries, while it has full NUC accreditation and professional bodies in all its 44 programmes.
According to him, ABUAD had been previously ranked among world universities as No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years in 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025.
His words, ” It had also been ranked as No. 1 in Africa in Sustainable Development Goal in SDG 13 (Climate Change),with a score of 83.1%, No. 1 in SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), with a score of 83.3%, No. 2 in Africa in SDG 1 (No Poverty), , with a score of 87.9%< No. 3 in Africa in SDG 17 (Partnership For Goals), with a score of 92.4%, No.1, among several others.
” ABUAD is the only institution in Nigeria, and possibly Africa, with 124- Unit Industries, (Research Park), the only university with a sophisticated 400-Bed Multi-System Hospital, Independent Power Plant, IPP for regular and uninterrupted power supply, the only institution where fees for study of Agriculture is reduced by 50% , and N250,000 later given to every Agric graduates to start their farming businesses upon completion of studies.
” Aside from compulsory dressing code for both staff and students, and compulsory evening classes, the institution also champions what is known as Youth Empowerment Scheme, under which we have trained well over 1,000, and still counting, expended N186 million, and also doled out the sum of N49.1 million to those under entrepreneur scheme.
” We also have the university dam for regular water, modern Stadium, with Olympic size swimming pool, among several other landmarks, not common to many universities”, Ijabadeniyi said.
The University also called on government at all levels for immediate reconstruction of Ado-Ijan Road, describing the road as a death trap for users.
Ijabadeniyi recounted Babalola’s intervention on the road from 2009 to 2019, noting that the legal icon is incapacitated for further assistance as a result of the quantum of projects he is embarking upon in the state.
He equally lamented over the lackadaisical attitudes of the politicians who only place priorities on the Elder statesman during electioneering campaigns but varnish after assuming power.
“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.
“The road has become worrisome and it’s also a testament to the type of government we have. During campaigns, you see them gallivanting, coming to Baba (Afe Babalola) to prostrate but after the campaign and election, you won’t see them again”.
