During a courtesy visit to the institution on Monday, the first Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, led a high-level delegation on a tour of the university’s expanding medical and industrial facilities. He said the scale and sophistication of ABUAD’s investments were “overwhelming,” noting that they reflected a level of commitment rarely seen from a private individual.
Olowojebutu pointed to the 400-bed ABUAD Multi-System Hospital—widely regarded as one of the best-equipped medical centres in Sub-Saharan Africa—as evidence of Babalola’s vision. The hospital hosts two functional MRI machines, an affordable dialysis unit and an in-house oxygen plant, features he said set new benchmarks for modern medical service delivery in Nigeria.
He also applauded the university’s Industrial Park, Independent Power Plant and Enterprise Farms, describing them as transformative projects that have strengthened Ekiti State’s visibility and prestige. Olowojebutu stressed that Babalola’s decision to situate such world-class infrastructure in a relatively small state, despite never holding political office, underscored his commitment to national development rather than personal gain.
“What Aare Babalola has done is for humanity, and it deserves to be promoted and supported at all levels,” he said.
In his remarks, Babalola expressed gratitude for the NMA’s recognition and reflected on Nigeria’s declining institutional standards compared with the post-independence era. He explained that the creation of ABUAD stemmed from his determination to champion functional, quality education—despite having ended formal schooling at Standard VI.
He noted that the university’s rapid rise had been affirmed globally, with ABUAD ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and maintaining its position as Nigeria’s leading university for the fourth consecutive year.
Babalola urged affluent Nigerians to channel their resources into meaningful investments in education and healthcare, arguing that even modest contributions could transform lives and strengthen the nation’s future.