Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), is set to graduate 2,194 students at its 14th convocation ceremonies, with three prominent Nigerians to receive honorary Doctor of Letters degrees in recognition of their contributions to education, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and national development.
The university’s Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, will also receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Trinity Western University, Canada, and Trinity International University, United States, at the convocation grand finale scheduled for October 21, 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press conference heralding the institution’s 14th Unbroken Convocation Ceremonies, which will run from October 14 to 21.
The three Nigerians to be honoured with honorary Doctor of Letters degrees, honoris causa, are Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines; Mr Niyi John Olajide, an entrepreneur and investor; and Dr Rosemary Osula Mku-Atu, a business leader and philanthropist.
Olarinde said the honours were intended to recognise their contributions to society and provide graduating students with examples of how professional accomplishments could be matched with service to humanity.
In a related development, Babalola is expected to receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the two foreign universities during the grand finale of the convocation.
According to Olarinde, the honours recognise his contributions to legal scholarship, educational innovation, philanthropy, social development and leadership.
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She said the international recognition further underscored the impact of Babalola’s investments in education and institution-building, as well as his longstanding commitment to public service.
The convocation will also celebrate the Class of 2026, which the university described as its largest graduating cohort since it commenced academic activities in January 2010.
Of the 2,194 graduands, 1,759 are completing undergraduate and professional programmes, while 435 are graduating from postgraduate programmes, comprising 359 students of the College of Postgraduate Studies and 76 from the ABUAD Business School’s postgraduate programmes.
The university disclosed that 286 graduands obtained first-class degrees, while 824 earned second-class upper degrees. Another 234 obtained second-class lower degrees, while 29 graduated with third-class degrees.
The remaining graduands completed professional or postgraduate programmes to which the conventional degree classifications do not apply.
The convocation lecture, scheduled for October 20, will be delivered by Professor Okonkwo on the theme “Functional Education and the Nigeria Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal”.
Olarinde said the theme was particularly relevant to Nigeria’s development needs, stressing the importance of an education system that equips graduates with knowledge, character and practical skills to create value, solve problems and contribute to national renewal.
She called on government, industry, professional bodies, development partners, alumni and philanthropists to strengthen collaboration with universities, noting that investment in higher education remained critical to national development, healthcare, food security, technology, enterprise and stability.
“These honours on Afe Babalola will further underscore the international recognition of a life devoted to institution-building, transformative leadership and service to humanity,” Olarinde said.
“His insistence that education must solve problems and improve society is reflected in our teaching, professional training, research, farms, industrial park, the ABUAD Multisystem Hospital, community engagements and international partnerships.
“The Class of 2026 is the largest graduating class in the history of the University. The number has risen from 103 graduands at our inaugural Convocation in 2013 to 2,194 graduands in 2026.
“To our graduates, an ABUAD certificate carries both honour and responsibility. You are leaving a University that expects you to be competent, disciplined, ethical, guided by the highest integrity and useful to yourselves and society.
“The value of your education will be measured not only by the positions you occupy but also by the problems you solve, the people you serve and the integrity with which you conduct yourselves.
“Nigeria needs a robust education system that develops knowledge and character while preparing graduates to create value, solve problems and contribute meaningfully to national renewal.
“No nation can develop beyond the quality of its education. Investment in universities is therefore an investment in healthcare, food security, technology, enterprise, public administration, security and national stability.
“We remain committed to developing knowledge, practical skills and sound moral values, and to preparing graduates who can create opportunities and serve their communities.”