I was tempted to change ABUAD to ‘girls only’ varsity – Babalola
The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), on Thursday lamented the low level of women’s recognition in Nigeria, calling for a change of attitude.
The legal luminary and elder statesman said this at an event organised by the university to mark the 2025 edition of International Women’s Day Celebration.
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.
“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.
Speaking further, Babalola 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.
He 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.
He said the origins of International Women’s Day are rooted in the struggle for women’s rights and labour rights, reflecting a broader movement for social justice and equality.
Babalola therefore charged women in Africa and across the globe to fight for their rightful place in politics, saying it is regrettable that women do not play active and effective roles in politics to be able to belong to platforms through which they can fight for themselves.
He also called for compulsory education for women and the need to draft a constitution that would guarantee equity, fairness and justice to Nigerians, irrespective of sex or religion.
Speaking, Ms Beatrice Eyong, the UN Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the position of women in developing the society can never be over-emphasised, saying women hold a duty to be affirmative on the significant roles they are naturally made to perform.
She expressed gratitude to Babalola and his university for hosting the women’s day celebration, even as she urged other eminent individuals and institutions to rise in support of women’s causes.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government (SSG), Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, described the present government in Ekiti as one of the leading administrations in the country that is gender friendly, especially when considering the number of top elective and appointive positions currently held by women.
She listed them to include that of the Deputy Governor, SSG, Accountant General, a good number of assembly lawmakers, commissioners, and several others.
Earlier, in an address of welcome, the ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, as the number one centre of gender equity and inclusiveness, with women holding major key positions, courtesy of the founder, Afe Babalola.
