Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, says Nigeria’s growing crime rate is tied to the country’s declining educational standards.
Speaking at the weekend during a visit by the management of Ekiti State University (EKSU), led by Vice Chancellor Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, Babalola warned that the country must urgently overhaul its schools to secure development and stability.
“Half education is more dangerous than no education. Many of those engaged in criminal activities today are products of a failing educational system,” he said. He urged policymakers to prioritise research, innovation and academic excellence as tools for national progress.
ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, praised Babalola’s vision, citing the university’s achievements in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. She highlighted the ABUAD Multi-System Hospital as one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most advanced, noting its recent milestone in delivering twins for a 60-year-old woman.
She also called for greater gender balance in leadership, pointing out that women occupy key roles at ABUAD, including Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Librarian. EKSU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayodele, commended Babalola’s philanthropy and sought collaboration in agriculture and research, noting EKSU’s 14 hectares of tomatoes currently ready for harvest.
