From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has said the operation of substandard universities and other higher education centres in Nigeria has adversely affected the education system in the country.
He called on the federal government to phase out universities and study centres operating below the required standard to ensure quality and functional education in the country.
Babalola made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, on Thursday, while being conferred with the fellowship of King’s College, London, for his role in transforming education in society.
The legal giant, who described the substandard universities as “major weapons fashioned against quality and functional education in Nigeria and the world at large”, called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to look into the situation. He urged the NUC to identify the institutions that are not operating in accordance with the set standards and close them down to curtail the trend for the betterment of the country.
“The biggest menace facing quality education today, especially in Nigeria and across Africa, is the proliferation of mushroom satellite campuses and study centres that have long deviated from their original conceptualisation and intent,” he said.
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“What we expect is for the National Universities Commission (NUC) to close down mushroom universities. There are many universities which are illegal, which commenced operations without the permission of [the] NUC.
“NUC published their names, why don’t they arrest [the] owners of such illegal universities, why don’t they close them down?
“Why can’t they make the staff of such universities face punishment and put them before [a] court of law and yet, they are building new ones every day.”
Speaking on the award, the Vice President, International Engagement and Service of King’s College, London, Professor Funmi Olonisakin, said the fellowship award conferred on Babalola was in recognition of his transformative contributions to society.
“We are here to award the fellowship of King’s College, London to Aare Afe Babalola, whose fellowship is typically given to people who have made transformative contributions to society at large or [to] King’s College, London,” she said.
In his remarks, the Governor of the state, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, commended Babalola for his immense contributions to the education sector and other sectors.
The governor, who was represented by the newly appointed state’s Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said, “Aare Afe Babalola’s footprints across all sectors have made him the father of the state, while his uncommon humanity and impact have also ranked him higher, against all odds.”
The Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, appreciated King’s College, London for the award, noting it was in recognition of Babalola’s efforts in education and other sectors.
The VC described the proprietor as [an] “exemplar of the power of transformative education” in Nigeria and Africa.