From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Legal icon and Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) founder Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has emphasised the importance of a unified Nigeria for its development. He believes the country’s large population and diverse languages can be assets, citing China’s success as an example.
Speaking at the 1st Africa-Asia Inter-Continental Universities Conference at ABUAD, Babalola urged self-determination agitators to reconsider their stance and learn from China’s utilisation of its diversity to become a leading nation.
He highlighted China’s transformation from a largely undeveloped country to a global leader, despite its vast size and diverse population. He believes Nigeria can achieve similar success by harnessing its own population and manpower.
The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Ms Yan Yuqing, attributed China’s economic growth to its focus on science and technology, which has also driven global sustainable development. She emphasised the importance of the conference in sharing knowledge and best practices between China and African universities.
She commended ABUAD for its role in facilitating China-Nigeria cooperation in education and science and technology for sustainable development. She also expressed confidence in ABUAD’s ability to empower Nigerian youth through Chinese language and vocational skills education.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, praised ABUAD for its commitment to becoming a world-class university with local and global relevance. He pledged his administration’s support for private initiatives that contribute to the state’s growth and development.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, commended ABUAD for its initiative in hosting the conference, which he believes will foster collaboration between African and Chinese universities.