Aare Afe Babalola, founder and chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has declared that he has realized his lifelong dream of establishing and nurturing a world-class university in Nigeria.
The legal icon made this statement while speaking to journalists during the 16th anniversary of academic activities at the university, highlighting ABUAD’s remarkable growth, global recognition, and academic achievements over the past 16 years.
He recalled that the university began on January 4, 2010, with just 240 pioneer students and has since evolved into a globally competitive institution that has outpaced many older universities, becoming a benchmark for quality and functional education both in Nigeria and internationally.
Babalola emphasized that ABUAD has consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide, citing its placement in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings within the top 100 globally, and its recognition as Nigeria’s number one university for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
He noted that the accomplishment proves that age is no barrier to success, having founded the university at around 80 years old.
According to him, ABUAD has emerged as a leader in key disciplines such as Law, Medicine, and Engineering, surpassing many established institutions and firmly establishing itself as a global brand in higher education.
Babalola expressed gratitude to God for the divine guidance and sustaining grace that the institution has received since its inception, describing the journey as one marked by faith, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to quality and functional education.
He lauded the management and staff of the institution, under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, for helping to bring his vision to life as a flourishing academic reality that is admired both within and outside Nigeria.
Babalola appealed to both academic and non-academic staff to remain disciplined, committed, and focused, stating that maintaining the university’s high standards should be the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
In her speech, ABUAD Vice-Chancellor Prof. Smaranda Olarinde stated that the institution’s 16-year journey is a testament to visionary leadership, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Olarinde added that the university’s steady rise in global and national rankings reflected the clear vision of the founder and the uncompromising dedication of staff and students to academic integrity, research relevance, and innovation.