Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), a private institution renowned for academic excellence, has once again made history by securing a spot among the top 100 universities in the world, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. This announcement was made during a press conference held at the university’s conference room, where the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olasupo A. Ijabadeniyi, detailed the institution’s remarkable journey and current accomplishments.
Established by legal luminary and philanthropist, Aare Afe Babalola (OFR, CON, SAN), ABUAD was founded with the vision of setting a new standard in university education. Driven by this vision, Babalola made personal sacrifices, including withdrawing his life savings and selling off shares in various multinational companies to bring the institution to life. Since commencing academic activities on January 4, 2010, ABUAD has steadily climbed the academic ladder, setting benchmarks in quality education and infrastructure.
In just 15 years, ABUAD has risen to global prominence. It is now ranked No. 84 globally, No. 3 in Africa, and No. 1 in Nigeria, maintaining this top national position consistently from 2022 to 2025. The university also emerged No. 1 in Africa in SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), while achieving top-three rankings across other Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Prof. Ijabadeniyi attributed the university’s achievements to visionary leadership, committed staff, and a strong value system. He emphasized that ABUAD has earned full accreditation for all 44 of its academic programmes from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant professional bodies. The institution’s excellence spans disciplines such as Law, Engineering, Nursing, and Sciences, drawing accolades from both national and international educational bodies.
Beyond rankings, ABUAD is Nigeria’s only fully residential university, with a diverse student population drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The university boasts a state-of-the-art learning environment, including Nigeria’s most advanced computational platform for drug design and research. These milestones, according to university management, reinforce ABUAD’s mission to redefine the future of higher education in Nigeria and Africa.
