Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has raised concerns over the proliferation of illegal and substandard private universities in Nigeria.
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Babalola called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to revisit its accreditation procedures and take decisive action against unapproved institutions, stressing that Nigeria deserves the best and should not tolerate substandard education.
He also urged the government and public-spirited Nigerians to support credible private universities, noting that ABUAD had yet to receive any major endowment despite its significant investments in infrastructure, including an industrial research park and a 400-bed Multi-System Teaching Hospital.
Recalling his humble beginnings and lifelong passion for purposeful education, Babalola emphasized that ABUAD was established as a non-profit institution committed to excellence in teaching, research, and community service.
He made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti while welcoming the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Accreditation Team to the university.
Babalola stated:
“ABUAD is a non-profit private university where nobody holds shares. Any surplus funds are reinvested into the university. Today, the valuation of the university is over N300 billion. Our facilities, including the hospital, farm, industrial park, colleges, and serene campus, reflect this commitment.”
“According to the World Bank, a university must excel in quality teaching, quality research, and community service. We are proud that ABUAD continues to achieve these three objectives.”
He criticized the current state of private higher education:
“Previously, the NUC required prior visits to proposed university sites, evaluating buildings, faculty quality, and other parameters before granting approval. Today, there is a long list of illegal private universities in Nigeria. I urge the NUC to close them down and hold their owners accountable. Nigeria deserves quality education.”
Babalola stressed the societal value of education:
“Quality and functional education define both a man and a nation. Educated individuals think of their society, not just themselves. ABUAD exemplifies this through ABAEX, youth empowerment programs, and initiatives by our Multi-System Hospital.”
He further noted:
“No government can fund education for everyone. In developed countries, private universities thrive with support from philanthropists and government. Since ABUAD’s establishment, nobody has endowed the university with substantial funding. I call on Nigerians to support quality education.”
Speaking earlier, ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, described the MDCN visit as a critical step in accrediting the university’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.
Prof. Olarinde highlighted ABUAD’s achievements in medical education since 2011, noting that the MBBS programme secured full accreditation within three years of inception—an uncommon feat in Nigeria.
She said the university has graduated seven sets of medical doctors trained under a competency-based curriculum, supported by advanced facilities at the ABUAD Multi-System Teaching Hospital and its affiliate, the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.
The VC emphasised that the programme prioritises quality, ethics, community service, and hands-on clinical experience.
She assured the MDCN team of full transparency during the accreditation exercise, with all records, staff, students, and facilities available for scrutiny.
Prof. Olarinde added that ABUAD views accreditation not as a fault-finding mission but as an opportunity to strengthen systems and further elevate standards.
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