Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, recently celebrated its 12th convocation ceremony, where 1,662 graduates received their degrees. This included 1,485 first-degree and 177 postgraduate recipients. Among the notable attendees were prominent figures such as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, legal practitioner Damian Dodo, and Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, who all received honorary doctorates during the ceremony. The event highlighted not only the accomplishments of the graduates but also addressed the pressing issues faced by Nigerian tertiary institutions.
During the ceremony, ABUAD’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, raised concerns about the challenges confronting education in Nigeria. She pointed out that the country’s declining economy and naira devaluation have significantly affected the operations of tertiary institutions. Olarinde explained how the sharp rise in living costs has made education less accessible for many families, urging the Federal Government to implement economic reforms to stabilize the currency and ease the financial burden on households and educational institutions.
The Vice Chancellor also criticized the exclusion of private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the government’s student loan scheme. She argued that this exclusion creates an imbalance in educational opportunities, as private institutions are deprived of essential funding and resources available to their public counterparts. Furthermore, Olarinde lamented the poor state of infrastructure, particularly the road leading to ABUAD, emphasizing the need for government intervention in addressing these pressing infrastructural deficits in Ekiti State.
As she congratulated the graduates, Olarinde encouraged them to leverage their education and position to become innovators capable of solving complex global problems. She expressed pride in the university’s commitment to providing a high-quality education and preparing students for the challenges of the modern world. Her remarks underscored the importance of the graduates as agents of change who are expected to contribute positively to society after their academic journey.
Founder of the university, Afe Babalola, also extended his congratulations to the graduates, emphasizing the importance of excellence and the role of graduates as ambassadors of the institution. He expressed hope that they would embody the values and standards that ABUAD champions, thereby making a difference in their respective fields and communities. The sense of community and pride in the institution’s accomplishments was palpable, as graduates were encouraged to carry forward the university’s ideals and vision.
In a goodwill message, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa acknowledged ABUAD’s significant contributions to human capital development in Nigeria over its 15-year history. He praised Afe Babalola’s investment in the institution, highlighting its transformative impact on education in the country. At this convocation, which coincided with the coincidence of the 15th Founder’s Day celebration, the Governor expressed gratitude for Babalola’s continued commitment and vision for world-class education, reinforcing the notion that such efforts are imperative for the growth and development of Nigeria’s educational landscape.
