….As varsity emerges 1st in 2026 times higher education impact rankings

The founder and Chancellor of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola has charged the staff and other Stakeholders’ in the university to ensure that the institution emerged one of the 50 topmost universities in the world.

Babalola spoke through the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde, yesterday at a press conference on the 2026 Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rating in Ado Ekiti.

Olarinde said: “Following the publication of the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, barely one year ago, I vividly recall the reference made to a profound conversation between the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, and our revered Founder and Chancellor in 2015.

“Filled with admiration for Aare Babalola’s extraordinary accomplishments, Justice Tanko Muhammad remarked, “You have earned a distinguished name, amassed remarkable success and wealth, and achieved what many can only dream of. What more could you possibly desire?”

“With characteristic vision and tireless ambition, our Founder, the visionary Chancellor, replied that his greatest aspiration was to see Afe Babalola University ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. To the glory of God, that dream became a reality in 2025.

“Yet, true visionaries are never content with yesterday’s successes. Following the announcement of this year’s Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, our revered Founder and the Bamofin of Yorubaland, Aare Afe Babalola, expressed profound gratitude to Almighty God and to every member of the ABUAD community whose dedication and hard work made this remarkable achievement possible.

“He then challenged us, once again, with an even higher aspiration: that ABUAD should continue its upward trajectory and secure a place among the world’s top 50 universities.

“That vision has now become our renewed resolve. Judging by the remarkable progress we have recorded over the years, I have every confidence that, with God’s grace and the collective efforts of our staff, students, alumni, stakeholders, and partners, ABUAD will attain that milestone in the not-too-distant future.”

Speaking on the ranking of the ABUAD at topmost in Nigeria and among 72 worldwide, the Vice Chancellor said that these accomplishments did not happen by accident.

“They are products of visionary leadership, strategic planning, institutional discipline, resilient governance, staff commitment, the steadfast support of our students, parents, partners, and stakeholders.

“Here are the main key pillars driving our success story, with some already captured: Full accreditation of all programmes by the NUC and relevant professional bodies; Over 70 institutional partnerships within and outside Nigeria; State-of-the-art laboratories, workshops and research facilities.”

Continuing, Olarinde said that “other factors included the most advanced computational platform for drug design and research in Nigeria; Mandatory professional certifications for students alongside their degree programmes;

“Mandatory proficiency training in foreign languages such as Chinese and French. And compulsory training in indigenous languages (Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa)

“Stable academic calendar and uninterrupted power supply through our Independent Power Plant and Solar System; A functional Planetarium for compulsory Space Studies; Extensive scholarship programmes for indigent and outstanding students;

“The Founder’s continued prioritisation of staff and students’ welfare, including the upward review of salaries and allowances across all staff cadres. This is in addition to uninterrupted regular salary payment since inception (4th of January, 2010);” she said.