It’s difficult for Nigerian varsities to be world-class –Afe Babalola

The founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Afe
Babalola (SAN), has said various challenges facing the
establishment and running of a university in Nigeria have made none
of the varsities world-class.

He noted that universities in the country faced some challenges
such as poor worker attitude to work, incessant industrial action
by the labour unions, lack of modern curriculum and paucity of good
leadership, among others.

The legal luminary stated this at the second founder’s lecture
he delivered at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo
State.

The lecture was entitled, ‘The Secret of Founding.’

According to him, bad attitude of workers towards their job,
specifically, was a major challenge facing public institutions in
Nigeria, saying some workers believe that employer’s job is not
worthy of being done properly.

He said, “ One of the major problems in this country is the
attitude of staff to work, particularly in public institutions.
Hardly will you find Nigerian worker who sees works as his
business.

“They all see the employer’s business as the employer’s business
that one doesn’t have to stress himself or herself about.

“For me, I see where I work as a personal business; but workers
in public institutions and civil service think otherwise. That is
why it would be very difficult to for most Nigerian universities —
unlike their counterparts overseas — to become world class
universities.”

Babalola said he established his own university, ABUAD, out of
curiosity and love to ensure quality and functional education.

He explained that the experience he acquired as a Pro-Chancellor
and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos
also propelled him to establish a university and, according to him,
the institution was ranked as one of the best private universities
in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the UNIMED, Prof. Friday
Okonofua, said the university had been able to make some
achievements in the two years of its existence under the auspices
of the Ondo State Government, host communities and
philanthropies.

He commended a member of the Ondo community and former Chairman
of Odua Investment Company Limited, Isaac Akintade, for donating a
building to the university.

The founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Afe
Babalola (SAN), has said various challenges facing the
establishment and running of a university in Nigeria have made none
of the varsities world-class.

He noted that universities in the country faced some challenges
such as poor worker attitude to work, incessant industrial action
by the labour unions, lack of modern curriculum and paucity of good
leadership, among others.

The legal luminary stated this at the second founder’s lecture
he delivered at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo
State.

The lecture was entitled, ‘The Secret of Founding.’

According to him, bad attitude of workers towards their job,
specifically, was a major challenge facing public institutions in
Nigeria, saying some workers believe that employer’s job is not
worthy of being done properly.

He said, “ One of the major problems in this country is the
attitude of staff to work, particularly in public institutions.
Hardly will you find Nigerian worker who sees works as his
business.

“They all see the employer’s business as the employer’s business
that one doesn’t have to stress himself or herself about.

“For me, I see where I work as a personal business; but workers
in public institutions and civil service think otherwise. That is
why it would be very difficult to for most Nigerian universities —
unlike their counterparts overseas — to become world class
universities.”

Babalola said he established his own university, ABUAD, out of
curiosity and love to ensure quality and functional education.

He explained that the experience he acquired as a Pro-Chancellor
and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos
also propelled him to establish a university and, according to him,
the institution was ranked as one of the best private universities
in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the UNIMED, Prof. Friday
Okonofua, said the university had been able to make some
achievements in the two years of its existence under the auspices
of the Ondo State Government, host communities and
philanthropies.

He commended a member of the Ondo community and former Chairman
of Odua Investment Company Limited, Isaac Akintade, for donating a
building to the university.