Crescent University, sitting quietly in the hills of Abeokuta, Ogun State, has become one of Nigeria’s fast-growing places of learning and good values. As the school celebrates 20 years, its beginning tells a strong story of sacrifice, big dreams, and helping to build the nation.
Founded in 2005 by the late Judge Bola Ajibola, SAN, CFR, KBE, a former Attorney General of Nigeria and Judge at the International Court of Justice, the university was not just another private institution. Judge Ajibola sold his personal properties in Lagos and abroad to fund it. His mission: to produce not just brilliant minds, but responsible global citizens. “We are not out to produce brilliant beasts,” he once said.
Under the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), the school welcomes students of all faiths, with over 30% of its student population being non-Muslims. Its foundation was laid on three colleges, but it now boasts six, including the Bola Ajibola College of Law (BACOLAW), which has brought global pride through competitions in Paris and The Hague.
One of the most outstanding stories of the university emerged from its College of Health Sciences, which achieved 100% pass in the 2025 Midwifery Examination. Now, the college is working to build on the foundation of this success with a significant expansion that will be funded with a N250 million ASR Africa grant. The Department of Mass Communication, led by top media scholars, recently scored 93.5% in an NUC accreditation and now mentors PhD students.
Graduates from Crescent work with global names like the BBC and Nestlé. As it enters its third decade, the university remains a shining legacy, built not on wealth, but wisdom, and driven by service, scholarship, and sacrifice.