The management of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State has appealed to the federal government to wade into the deplorable condition of the Ado-Ijan Ekiti Road.
The University, founded by iconic legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, while decrying the state of the road, called for immediate reconstruction of the road which it said was fast becoming impassable for motorists.
ABUAD Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Olasupo Ijabadeniyi, who made the plea at the weekend while speaking with journalists, said Aare Afe Babalola had spend a lot in the maintenance of the road from 2009 to 2019 but could not proceed further due to other projects he embarked upon across the state.
Ijabadeniyi who described the condition of the road as pathetic and worrisome, said Aare Babalola had thought that the establishment of Ekiti State International Cargo Airport will ‘force’ the government to rehabilitate and fix it.
“The role played by Aare Afe Babalola in the maintenance of the Road between 2009 and 2019 is in the public domain. The same goes for the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport where he has invested billions of Naira to make it functional.
“The maintenance of Ado-ljan Road and the functionality of the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport is certainly beyond his capacity, bearing in mind the quantum of projects he has embarked upon in the overall interest of the state.
“Because of this, the time has come for both the Federal and Ekiti State Governments to see to the immediate re-construction of the Ado-ljan Road and the completion of the Ado-Ekiti Cargo Airport,” he said.
The Acting VC noted that, “If the university is more accessible, it will attract patronage from both local and international audience as a result of which it would win more laurels for the state and the nation at large”.
The University also expressed happiness over its ranking by the Times Higher Education as number 84 globally among 2,318 universities, 3rd in Africa and 1st in Nigeria.
Prof Ijabadeniyi said the ranking was the dream and vision of the founder coming to fruition after establishing the institution fifteen (15) years ago.
Ijabadeniyi who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde also expressed the joy of Aare Babalola that the institution is also ranked 1st in Africa in (SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy), 1st in Africa (SDG 13 -Climate Change), 2nd in Africa (SDG 1 – No Poverty), 3rd in Africa (SDG 17 – Partnership for Goals).
Ijabadeniyi assured that the university will continue to seek to be among best 10 in the world. “Last year, we celebrated being number 142 in the world, 42 in Africa and number 1 in Nigeria but today we are number 84 in the world, that means we are not resting on our oars.”
He noted, “With 15 years we have achieved the feat of being among the best 100 universities in the world as envisaged by our founder. I am made bold to say that by God’s grace, we are going to achieve the feat in our founder’s lifetime.
“He is happy with this new development and he giving us the task of making it happen in his lifetime and we promised him with the cooperation of all”.
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