ABUAD Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Leadership with support from British Council

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has further strengthened its leadership development drive for women in higher education with support from the British Council, aimed at advancing gender equity and empowering women for senior roles in academia.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day “Empower: Leadership Training for Women in Higher Education” workshop on Wednesday, December 2, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde,FCArb, FCAI, reaffirmed the university’s relentless commitment to advancing the course of women.

She emphasized that the evolving demands of higher education require leaders who are “visionary, compassionate, resilient, and authentic.

Women must possess these strengths and must confidently take their place in decision-making spaces. As a woman know when and how to say NO and mean it,” she noted.

Prof. Olarinde admonished women to rise above societal barriers, systemic biases, and internalised limitations, noting that leadership becomes truly transformative when rooted in integrity, empathy, and personal conviction.

The Vice-chancellor, in her keynote address, commended the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, for fostering an enabling environment that supports women’s growth, excellence, and leadership.

Representing Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), Dr. Adetoro Adegoke, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange, described the British Council grant as catalytic, designed to accelerate gender-equity efforts within Nigerian universities.

According to her, ABUAD and BNU will provide structured support, mentorship pathways, and leadership exposure for aspiring female academics. She further highlighted the potential for larger future funding, including a proposed £8 million Wellcome Trust opportunity.

Dr. Adegoke noted that many women in academia globally face psychological and structural barriers, including imposter syndrome and limited access to leadership networks, stressing that initiatives like this workshop are critical to breaking those barriers and building a more inclusive academic environment.

“Gender bias is not peculiar to Nigeria; women in the U.K have similar challenge. The aim is to support aspiring women leaders to ensure gender balance at leadership levels across higher education institutions. Participation is open to women who are passionate and willing to grow. Leadership begins from within.” She added.

The workshop also recorded the presence of distinguished women in leadership beyond ABUAD, including the mother of the university, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, FSM, FNIMN, FFPA, who, in her goodwill message, urged participants to put into practice the valuable lessons gained from the workshop.

The grant positions ABUAD as a leading institution in Nigeria’s push for gender-balanced leadership, reinforcing its reputation for innovation, inclusivity, and capacity-building in the higher education sector.