The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State has commended the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) for its contributions to the development of agriculture and industrial sectors and for ensuring food security in the country.
The Deputy Director General of IITA, Dr Kenton Dashiell who stated this during a courtesy visit to the university on Wednesday said the institute would be willing to further solidify its existing collaboration with the leading educational institution in the world.
He noted that the multi-million investment of the founder, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN towards ensuring food security is profound, adding that the institute was impressed with the exploits not only in agriculture but in industrialization and community service.
He assured that his institution would continue to invest in the university to not only rank among the top universities globally but be the best in the world.
He said, “We will do everything possible to make sure this partnership grows stronger. We will invest to see this University become more professional and make sure that ABUAD is ranked globally among universities like Cambridge, Harvard, among others.”
Speaking, Afe Babalola who revealed how he and the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, were recently rated as the most successful self-made men in the world by the University of London, noted that he was determined to see the development of the society, especially through quality education.
He, however, sought partnerships from the US and Europe in the manufacturing of drugs being produced from ABUAD’s research Centre using African herbs, which he said are more potent, stronger, and more effective than those produced overseas.
The legal icon also called for private investors who are interested in investing in the university, even as he sought assistance for grants from donor agencies to further support the development of ABUAD.
He said, “Those who know me know that I am a self-made man without university education. My education ended in primary six, but I built on it. Through private correspondence courses, I obtained two degrees from the University abroad. Recently, the university where I took my correspondence degrees came out with a publication about their outstanding students who took correspondence to make it in life.
“The number one person was Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa. They said he was in prison when he took tuition from them and became a lawyer. The next person is Afe Babalola. They said this man was born into poverty, was raised in poverty, and he took tuition from overseas through them, passing Cambridge at home.”
Babalola noted the university’s significant achievement in producing a certified product using local herbs to combat viruses, stressing that herbal-based drugs are more potent and effective than modern capsules.
According to him, “We are seeking investors. ABUAD has grown beyond what you knew. We are looking for partnerships and grants to support us.
“We want partnerships from the US and Europe to collaborate in the manufacturing of drugs using African herbs, which are more potent, stronger, and more effective than those produced elsewhere.”
The elder statesman praised IITA for visiting the institution, noting that their long-standing partnership has benefited the university in agriculture and other sectors, attributing the university’s beauty and structure to the influence of IITA, which he described as a “London in Nigeria.”
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