Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has issued a direct challenge to academic staff, urging them to abandon old-fashioned teaching techniques and fully embrace innovative approaches that foster deep learning and curiosity.
Storytelling as a Powerful Educational Tool
The legal luminary made this call on Thursday, 8 January 2026, during a Two-Day Train-the-Trainer Workshop on Teaching Pedagogy held at the university's Alfa Belgore Hall. Babalola placed a strong emphasis on the timeless effectiveness of storytelling in education.
He asserted that the most impactful way to share knowledge and engage students is through compelling narratives. "The best way to impart knowledge, stimulate curiosity, and capture attention is through storytelling," Babalola stated. He advised lecturers to master their subjects, prepare their lessons thoroughly, and teach in a manner that creates a lasting impact on every learner.
Roadmap for Sustaining World-Class Excellence
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Michael Faborode, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University and ex-Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, provided a strategic plan for ABUAD's continued ascent.
He defined a modern university as one that must balance academic rigor with societal relevance, innovation, and tangible impact. Professor Faborode stressed that universities thrive on collaboration, a shared vision, and collective responsibility, noting that every lecturer, student, and alumnus plays a crucial role in maintaining institutional greatness.
Using Aare Afe Babalola as a prime example, Faborode praised him as one of the few Nigerians profoundly transforming education and humanity both within Nigeria and internationally. He also highlighted a critical global shift in academia, moving from the old "Publish or Perish" model to a new mantra: "Publish, Produce (Patent), and Prosper." This, he said, urges academics to convert research into patents, innovations, and commercial ventures.
Strategic Investment in Academic Workforce
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor E. Smaranda Olarinde, described the workshop as a key strategic initiative designed to cement the university's leadership in higher education. She redefined modern pedagogy as a deliberate, reflective, and innovative endeavor, far beyond the simple routine of transmitting information.
"At ABUAD, we are intentional about equipping our academic staff with the skills, mindset, and ethical grounding required to educate learners in a technology-driven, fast-changing world," Professor Olarinde emphasized. She identified the university's academic workforce as its greatest asset and stated that continuous professional development is central to ABUAD's vision for excellence in teaching, research, and societal impact.
The Vice-Chancellor concluded by urging all participants to actively implement the knowledge gained. She called for the lessons from the workshop to cascade into lectures, laboratories, and the entire research ecosystem, reinforcing that everyone contributes to ABUAD's story as a world-class institution.
