The Acting Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, has described the institution’s latest global ranking as a challenge to strive harder.
Ijabadeniyi expressed excitement over the university’s inclusion in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which on Wednesday ranked ABUAD 84th among universities worldwide.
Speaking at a press conference in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Saturday, the acting VC said, “Since the new ranking was announced, we have rolled up our sleeves because we must sustain the feat. We will not rest on our oars.”
He attributed the achievement to the “resilience, hard work, and visionary leadership” of the university’s founder, Aare Afe Babalola; the dedication of the Vice Chancellor and her management team; the commitment of both academic and non-academic staff; and the discipline of the students.
“Today, 15 years down the line, the university, which has become the toast of its peers — including those that are several decades older — has in 2025 been rated by the highly respected Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THEIRs) as No. 84 in the world, No. 3 in Africa, and No. 1 in Nigeria for four consecutive years — 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025 — among eight other categories,” he said.
While celebrating the feat, ABUAD also called on both the federal and Ekiti State governments to urgently reconstruct the Ado–Ijan Road, which leads to the university, and to complete the cargo airport in the area to improve accessibility.
Ijabadeniyi said, “If the university is more accessible, it will attract patronage from both local and international audiences, thereby winning more laurels for the state and the country at large.”
He recalled a statement made in 2015 by the founder, Aare Afe Babalola: “My wish, my hope and prayer is that this university would, in my lifetime, be recognised by the international body as one of the best 100 in the world. So, I still have a lot of work to do to bring this dream to fruition.”
The acting VC continued, “But here it is today, 10 years after, for the 15-year-old university. We are so happy now, so delighted, and full of joy.”
He added, “Indeed, we would not have reached where we are today without some uncommon measures the university has deliberately put in place — measures that have now made ABUAD a clear leader among its peers, including institutions that are several decades older.”
Ijabadeniyi listed some of those measures as: A well-planned campus layout that ensures seamless movement from college areas to hostels and facilities, mModern, well-equipped laboratories and workshops, full accreditation from the National Universities Commission and all relevant professional bodies for its 44 programmes, mandatory certification in one modern foreign language (Chinese or French), with scholarship opportunities to study in China, compulsory evening classes from 7–9 p.m., a strict dress code for students and staff — now being emulated by other universities
He also highlighted ABUAD’s regular and uninterrupted power supply from its Independent Power Plant, consistent water supply from the university’s dam, and a predictable, stable academic calendar.
Additional achievements include: Direct PhD admissions for many of its graduates, A 50% tuition fee reduction for Agriculture students, a N250,000 seed grant for every Agriculture graduate to start their own business, a Youth Empowerment Scheme that has trained over 1,000 youths and spent N186 million, a 124-unit Industrial Research Park designed to link university education with industry, stimulate economic growth, and create employment for graduates, professionals, and artisans
He also cited the ultra-modern 400-bed ABUAD Multi-System Hospital as part of the university’s exceptional infrastructure.
