UNILORIN, ABUAD collaborates on research, cultural interchange

AUTHORITIES of the University of Ilorin and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
(ABUAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop
academic research links/collaboration and cultural interchange between
the two institutions through mutual assistance in the areas of
education, research, capacity building, and project development.
The MoU, which will remain in force for a period of five years, was
endorsed in Ado-Ekiti yesterday with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, signing
on behalf of Unilorin Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, and
ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, signing on behalf of the
Founder of the foremost private institution, Are Afe Babalola.
According to the MoU, the collaboration between the two institutions
will be in the areas of teaching, research, staff exchange and
development, grant writing and facility development.

The MoU specifies that assistance shall be carried out through such
activities or programmes as: Curriculum development; Research
institutional development; Professional development; Student
exchanges; Faculty exchanges; Joint course offerings; and Continuing
education.
In his remarks shortly before the MoU signing, the Vice-Chancellor of
Afe Babalola University, Prof. Ajisafe, eulogised the University of
Ilorin, describing it as “a well-known and very formidable University
that does not go on frivolous strikes”. He said, “that is why we did
not hesitate to go into this partnership”.
Prof. Ajisafe, disclosed that the MoU with the University of Ilorin is
the 13th the institution would be signing into with other universities
both in Nigeria and abroad since its establishment seven years ago.
The ABUAD Vice-Chancellor said, “We are happy to partner with
Unilorin, which is the most peaceful University in the country. And we
are sure that, based on its antecedents, the partnership will work”.
Also in his remarks, the representative of the Unilorin
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olatunji, disclosed that the research
collaboration was in pursuit of the University’s sustained bid for
all-round development of the nation’s education system, saying that
the country stands to gain a lot from it.
Pointing out that the management of the University of Ilorin holds
ABUAD in very high esteem, Prof. Olatunji said, “If a private
university has been able to grow to this present status within such a
short period, then you can imagine what the university would be in the
next 20 years”.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor commended the Founder of ABUAD Are Afe
Babalola,  who, he said, “has demonstrated astute and wonderful
leadership qualities and dogged commitment to set goals”.
He said that Are Babalola is a God-sent person and a redeemer for
Nigeria, adding that “if we have just 10 of such a man in Nigeria, the
country would probably not be at the stage we are today”.
Stressing that Unilorin is happy to enter into the collaboration,
Prof. Olatunji assured the management of ABUAD that the institution
would play its part very well so that the MoU would achieve its aim.
According to him, “This MoU should not be an ordinary paper MoU, it
must be practical and not just theoretical”.
With the ABUAD Vice-Chancellor at the MoU signing ceremony were the
institution’s Bursar, Pastor Josheph Modupe Babalola; the Librarian,
Dr. (Mrs.) R. E. Subair; several Deans of faculties, Directors and
Heads of academic Departments.