“How I Was Tempted to Change ABUAD to Girls Only University,” Babalola Speaks
- Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has criticised the persistent gender discrimination in Nigeria
- Speaking at ABUAD’s 2025 International Women’s Day Celebration, he recalled how he was almost tempted to change the university to a girls-only institution
- Babalola shared how women occupied key administrative positions at ABUAD, including Vice Chancellor and Registrar
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements
On Thursday, March 13, the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), lamented the low level of women’s recognition in Nigeria, calling for a change of attitude.
Babalola condemns discrimination against women
Source: Facebook
The legal luminary and elder statesman spoke at an event organised by the university to mark the 2025 edition of International Women’s Day Celebration.
As reported by Vanguard, he expressed concern that the age-old discrimination against women has reached an alarming rate, such that many still believe that there is no need to even educate a woman, on the erroneous notion that women’s education ends in the kitchen.
He revealed that at ABUAD’s convocation ceremonies, nearly nine out of every ten First-Class graduates are female.
“When, as a young adult, I was admitted into the infant class at Emmanuel School, Ado-Ekiti, in 1937, we were 25 in number; there were only five girls among us, and only one of them completed the eight-year programme, leading to a primary six certificate.
“As a result of my experience, things have changed since then, especially with my university, ABUAD, where today, girls outnumber boys in figure,” Babalola said.
Babalola recalls how he almost changed ABUAD to girls varsity
Source: Twitter
Speaking further, Babalola added that he once considered transforming ABUAD into an all-girls institution due to the exceptional performance of female students.
The legal luminary said:
“Most interestingly, during convocation ceremonies, those who come up with First Class in all courses are women, in the ratio of about nine girls to just one boy.
“It is such that, at a time, it once occurred to me that I should change the university to a girls-only university.
“As a matter of fact, as I speak, I made sure the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, the Librarian, among several others, are all women, and the good news is that they are all performing very well,” he said.
Buttressing his point, Babalola expressed delight that since the late 19th century, there was a movement in civilised countries to form from a world population to fight for women’s rights, which today is now known as International Women’s Day.
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Afe Babalola University's founder dares FG
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Afe Babalola University's founder, Aare Afe Babalola, had said his varsity would continue to admit students below 18 despite federal government's policy.
Babalola, who faulted the decision of the federal government to bar students not up to 18 from gaining admission and having access to university education in the country, said the new policy is unacceptable and retrogressive, The Nigerian Tribune reported.
As reported by The Punch, he explained that universities enjoy autonomy and that they should be allowed to use their discretion in admitting students from different programmes that are obtainable in Western countries rather than government issuing directives in this regard.
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Source: Legit.ng
