2025 International Women’s Day: Aare Afe Babalola Applauds Female Academic Excellence, Calls for Greater Leadership Involvement

• ABUAD is the only institution of higher learning, I know, having women of virtue, value, and courage, occupying many key leadership positions-VC

The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, has commended the outstanding academic performance of female students, and called for more female empowerment for increased representation in leadership positions across Nigeria and beyond.

Speaking at ABUAD’s 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, held on Thursday, the 13th of March, 2025, the renowned legal luminary reflected on historical gender disparities in education.

“When I started school in 1937, out of 25 students, only five were girls, and only one completed the full program,” he recounted.

He noted that the story has drastically changed, with female students now outnumbering their male counterparts and consistently excelling academically.

“At ABUAD today, girls outnumber boys. Most notably, during convocation ceremonies, the majority of first-class graduates across all disciplines are women, at a ratio of approximately nine to one. At one point, I even considered transforming ABUAD into an all-girls university.”

Reaffirming his commitment to women’s leadership, the Sage highlighted that key administrative positions at ABUAD, including Vice-Chancellor-Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, the Registrar- Lady Christie Iyabode Oluborode, and the University Librarian Dr. Roselyn Esoname Subair, are all held by women who have demonstrated excellence in their respective roles.

He further urged women in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond to be more actively engaged in political and leadership spaces, emphasizing their trustworthiness and resilience.

“Whether on the farm or in any sector, women naturally thrive,” he added.

ABUAD’s Commitment to Gender Equality

Earlier, in her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the Founder for his visionary leadership, which has fostered an environment where women thrive.

“ABUAD is the only institution of higher learning I am aware of where women of virtue, value, and courage occupy key leadership positions,” she said.

Prof. Olarinde also hinted that ABUAD’s Gender-Based Policy and the 2021 Sexual Harassment (Prohibition) Policy, were designed to ensure fairness, equity, the protection and empowerment of women within the university community.

She pegged the success of the programme to the extraordinary commitment of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) being led by Prof. Adaora Osondu-Oti and the UN Women.

Global and National Perspectives on Gender Equality

Delivering remarks on behalf of UN Women, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Mr. Ibrahim Nurudeen, the Program Officer, Prevention and Mitigation Services, commended ABUAD’s leadership for championing gender equality. She underscored the economic implications of gender disparity and revealed that: “According to the World Bank, gender inequality costs the global economy $172 trillion in lost lifetime earnings. In Nigeria, closing the gender gap in economic participation could increase the country’s GDP by 23% within a few years.”

Also speaking at the event, the Secretary to Ekiti State Government (SSG), Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, reiterated the state government’s commitment to gender inclusivity, highlighting the presence of women in key leadership positions, including the Deputy Governor, SSG, and Accountant General, as evidence of Ekiti State’s dedication to gender equality.

Commendations from Security Agencies

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State- (CP) Joseph Eribo, and Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr. Toma Matthew. Both praised ABUAD’s proactive role in advancing women’s empowerment and commended its leadership for an unwavering commitment to gender inclusion.

The event was further brightened by colourful performances from students through poetry, songs, drama, and dance, beautifully rendered to celebrate women and the girl child.

FRPOM THE VC’s DESK