Africa will gain rightful place globally through quality education — Afe Babalola

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has disclosed that only quality education can enable the African continent to reclaim its rightful place in international affairs.

The elder statesman said civilization did not start in Europe or America but in Africa, wondering how the continent lost its ground and became underdeveloped.

Babalola spoke on Monday at a public lecture organised in honour of the visiting delegation from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa, held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He said, “The title of the lecture today is the future Africa should claim in global affairs. I am a student of history. The first civilization was not in Europe, Australia, Britain, or America but in Africa. Talk about science. The first knowledge about mathematics and the world was not in Europe. We lost our ground; why? I don’t know.

“When I was young, I used to think that Europe was superior to Africa. But I have changed my mind, having gone through education. I still believe we can achieve our rightful place in the world through education. That is why working with Durban University will make it possible to achieve that goal.”

Speaking, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa and the Guest Lecturer, Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, said Africa should take responsibility for its underdevelopment.

In his lecture titled, ‘The Future Africa Should Claim in Global Affairs,’ he said that Africa should take charge of its development because it is blessed with more abundant natural resources than any other continent.

The guest lecturer said, “Africa, as some of you may know, has the most considerable arable land on the planet. However, currently, Africa imports food from small countries like Ukraine, and I think that must stop. Africa has the wealthiest minerals, with our big rivers like the Congo and the Nile River, we should be able to generate enough electricity to power the whole of Africa, including solar energy, because we have abundant radiation.

“So there is so much that Africa can give not only to itself but to the rest of the world. Currently, we are not doing that. The blame for the underdevelopment should squarely lie in Africa. We Africans should take charge of our own development. We should, however, not turn a blind eye to the multinational corporation that is currently looting the continent. They will go to any length to make sure that those standing on their way get eliminated.”

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In her welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Smeranda Olarinde, said the partnership between ABUAD and DUT is a testament to the power of academic diplomacy in driving sustainable development. 

This collaboration, which began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 31st August 2021, has facilitated joint research, academic exchanges, and postgraduate opportunities for ABUAD staff members at DUT.

“It is noteworthy that this initiative sponsored 23 ABUAD staff members to begin postgraduate studies at DUT. I am glad to share that six of them remain on track to complete their programmes this year. This achievement speaks volumes about the academic resilience and excellence of our students, faculty, and staff at ABUAD who continue to do great things wherever they find themselves in the world.”

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