- June 21, 2025
- Posted by: itmanager
- Category: Uncategorized
The Ado-Ijan Road, a vital artery leading to Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), presents a striking paradox. Marred by deep potholes capable of swallowing entire tires, uneven stretches that test the patience of motorists, and dust clouds that choke the air, the road seems a world apart from the global-calibre university it leads to.
Yet, in the midst of this infrastructural neglect, ABUAD has achieved what many long-established institutions with superior access and legacy support have not: a place among the world’s top 100 universities.
The latest global rankings, released by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings at midnight on June 18, 2025, placed ABUAD 84th globally, a remarkable feat for an institution that commenced academic activities on Monday, January 4, 2010.
Just fifteen years after its establishment, the university continues to set the pace, securing 3rd place in Africa and maintaining its position as Nigeria’s number one university for the fourth consecutive year. The rankings, which assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcased ABUAD’s exceptional performance, particularly in Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Climate Action (SDG 13), where it emerged as the best in Africa with scores of 83.3% and 83.1% respectively.
How, then, did a young university tucked away at the end of a dilapidated road surpass centuries-old global giants? The answer lies in the unwavering vision of its founder, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, a renowned legal luminary and former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos. Driven by an audacious resolve to revolutionize Nigeria’s education system, Aare Babalola committed his life savings to the birth of ABUAD, selling choice properties in England, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan to fund the institution. During a visit by former Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed in 2015, he declared:
“My wish, my hope, and my prayer is that this university must, in my lifetime, be recognized by the international body as one of the best 100 in the world.”
Today, that vision has become reality. ABUAD’s extraordinary rise has been powered by landmark achievements that place it ahead of many of its peers. The university boasts an independent power plant that guarantees uninterrupted electricity, Africa’s most advanced computational platform for drug research, mandatory foreign language proficiency in either Chinese or French for all students, a 400-bed multi-system hospital considered the best-equipped in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a vibrant industrial research park that links academia with industry in transformative ways.
Speaking at a press briefing held at ABUAD’s Senate Chambers on Friday, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, FCArb, FCAI, drew attention to the deplorable condition of the Ado-Ijan Road. Flanked by the university’s top management team, including Registrar Lady Christie Oluborode, he expressed concern that the road’s condition poses a serious threat to ABUAD’s growing momentum.
“For years, our founder personally funded the maintenance of this road, but the burden has become unsustainable. We are now calling on the federal and Ekiti State governments to urgently intervene. If the road is repaired and the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport completed, ABUAD will become even more attractive to global talent and partnerships.” Professor Ijabadeniyi revealed
Registrar Oluborode praised the media for their consistent support in amplifying ABUAD’s story. “You are our eyes, our ears, and our mouthpiece,” she said. “Within the space of one hour, please let the world know about this historic global recognition.”
The story of ABUAD is more than a narrative of success; it is a compelling testament to what is possible when vision, leadership, and tenacity converge. While the physical road to its gates may be rough for now, the university’s trajectory remains smooth and inspiring, lighting the way forward for higher education in Nigeria, Africa, and the rest of the world.
Related links:
https://tribuneonlineng.com/abuad-retains-best-varsity-in-nigeria-ranks-84th-globally
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings?page=1#!/length/50/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc