- April 7, 2025
- Posted by: itmanager
- Category: Uncategorized
Ado-Ekiti, April 7, 2025 – Legal luminary and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN, has raised alarm over the increasing proliferation of illegal universities in Nigeria, calling for urgent regulatory reforms.
Speaking at the High Impact Research and Journal Advancement Workshop held at the Alfa Belgore Hall, ABUAD, Aare Babalola criticized the National Universities Commission (NUC) for lax oversight in university approvals, noting that many newly approved institutions lack even the most basic infrastructure.
“Recently, 50 universities were approved. I’m not sure if any of them even have a piece of land, let alone buildings, before receiving their approval. Why is the NUC not enforcing the regulations it once set? Many federal universities don’t even have sufficient classrooms,” he said.
The workshop was organized by the Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (JSDLP), a SCOPUS-indexed publication of the Institute of Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES).
Aare Babalola also decried the lack of government support for private universities involved in medical research and innovation, pointing out that ABUAD has developed a drug without receiving any financial support from TETFund.
“It cost us hundreds of millions to develop just one drug — and we’ve done it. Yet, TETFund didn’t give us a kobo. We wrote letters, but nobody responded. This is how the system discourages people like me. Is it the job of the House of Representatives to approve universities, when the NUC exists?” he asked.
ABUAD’s Vision for Research and Sustainable Development
In her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, hailed Distinguished Emeritus Prof. Peter Akinola Okebukola, the Keynote Lecturer, as a colossus of knowledge. She emphasized that the workshop aligns with ABUAD’s vision to promote mission-driven, homegrown research that contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This workshop focuses on the Diamond Open Access (DOA) model —a system that eliminates paywalls and article processing fees, reflecting ABUAD’s commitment to democratizing knowledge and strengthening research ecosystems,” she said.
Distinguished Emeritus Prof. Okebukola Tasks Scholars on Impactful Research
In his keynote lecture titled “Promoting High Impact Research Publications for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions”, Prof. Okebukola urged ABUAD to lead efforts in tracking national research output and scholarly impact.
He advised researchers to form academic reading groups and make article review a weekly habit:
“For the past four years, we’ve circulated one article every Sunday from a top-rated journal. A test follows on Friday. Those who fail to comply are delisted from the group,” he shared.
He also encouraged budding scholars not to treat the professorial title as the pinnacle, but to continue producing research that positively impacts society.
JSDLP: A Journal of Global Standards
Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnership (RISP), who is also the Editor-in-Chief of JSDLP, Prof. Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, in his opening remarks, attributed the journal’s growth to the untiring support of Aare Babalola and highlighted its global reputation.
“JSDLP is fully compliant with the RCUK Open Access Policy and is home to over 2,000 high-quality journals in its database,” he noted.
Below are pictures some from the event:
Below is link to the workshop as captured on YouTube:
FROM THE VC’s DESK