JABU secures approval to double Law admission quota

Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, has secured approval to double its Law admission quota from 50 to 100 students, a major boost to its capacity to train future legal professionals as the institution marks its 20th anniversary.

The Visitor to the university and President of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Oladele, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference to herald the institution’s anniversary celebration, themed “Two Decades of Divine Grace, Growth and Glory”.

Oladele said the development followed engagements with the Council of Legal Education, adding that the university was also advancing its professional programmes, including Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science.

He identified academic excellence, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and financial sustainability as key priorities for the institution’s next phase of development.

According to him, JABU’s vision goes beyond awarding degrees to producing graduates equipped with the knowledge, character and practical skills to create employment and contribute to national development.

He said, “Academic competence is essential, but competence without character can become a liability.

“Professional skill must be accompanied by integrity, ambition must be guided by responsibility, and knowledge must be directed towards the common good.”

Reflecting on the university’s journey, Oladele said JABU was conceived as a memorial to Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola, one of the foremost figures in the history of indigenous Pentecostal Christianity in Nigeria.

He said the vision took shape between 2001 and 2002 under the leadership of the late Pastor Elijah Howard Lajuwomi Olusheye, the then President of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas.

Academic activities commenced on October 25, 2006, with 247 students across four colleges: Agriculture, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social and Management Sciences.

The university’s first graduation ceremony, held in November 2010, produced 197 graduates, including 11 first-class graduates.

The Visitor said the institution had continued to strengthen its academic and administrative operations through infrastructure development and digital initiatives, including its collaboration with I-World under the Google for Education initiative.

He, however, acknowledged challenges arising from rising operating costs, infrastructure demands, competition in the higher education sector, and the need to attract and retain quality academic staff.

He stressed that programme expansion must be matched with adequate staffing, appropriate facilities, effective quality assurance and compliance with regulatory standards.

Outlining priorities for the next two decades, Oladele called for stronger research, industry partnerships and entrepreneurship education to equip graduates to establish businesses, develop innovative solutions and contribute to economic growth.

He also emphasised the need for reliable power supply, modern laboratories, improved learning facilities and sound financial management.

“The lesson of the past 20 years is that vision must be supported by discipline, faith must be accompanied by responsible action, and growth must be sustained by good governance,” he said.

Oladele reaffirmed the commitment of Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria and Overseas to the university’s founding vision, saying the institution would continue to pursue quality education, responsible leadership and meaningful contributions to society.