Aare Afe Babalola, Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti
Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, has called on affluent Nigerians to commit resources to education and healthcare, warning that national progress will remain stunted unless more private citizens invest meaningfully in these sectors.
He appealed while receiving a nine-member delegation from the Nigerian Medical Association, led by its First Vice President, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu.
Babalola said ABUAD and the ABUAD Multi-System Hospital had demonstrated what private investment can achieve through quality education and medical training, as well as by reducing medical tourism.
He faulted wealthy Nigerians who, despite having capacity, “have not looked in the direction of education,” noting that several world-class universities were founded by non-graduates.
He urged Nigerians to show greater compassion, stressing that many citizens struggle daily to meet basic needs. According to him, small acts of support, from paying school fees to assisting neighbours, can create a lasting impact.
Olowojebutu praised Babalola’s extensive investments, describing the University, industrial park, power plant, and 400-bed teaching hospital as a transformative legacy driven by a love for humanity. He said the facilities reflect global standards and deserve broader support.
ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said Babalola’s efforts had reshaped healthcare and medical education nationwide and called for increased backing to ease the country’s heavy doctor-patient burden.
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