Legal luminary and elder statesman Afe Babalola has urged Nigerian youth to shun acts associated with laziness, redundancy and complacency.
The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), made the call during the induction and oath-taking ceremony of newly qualified medical doctors of the institution, conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
He said that despite his advanced age, he still works for 16 hours and reads for 11 hours daily.
Babalola commended the inductees for making a difference, noting that no graduate of the university had ever left without proving his or her worth wherever they found themselves.
He urged the inductees to continue applying all the knowledge gained from the university and to be different at all times.
“Imbibe the spirit of all the things you have learnt, because many of you do not even know that at my age, I still work for 16 hours and read for about 11 hours a day.
“You must continue to read and work hard.
“This your first degree must not be the last. Continue to read more until you acquire every academic certificate relevant to your career.
“You, as medical practitioners in particular, are very important in this case.
“You must be accommodating. Do not count anybody unimportant in your line of service. Besides, you must be loving, caring, and well-dressed at all times.
“Above all, you must respect everybody, especially patients, and give them hope for life.
“You have received the best education from the best institution around. Make sure this is not your very last. You must keep reading and learning.
“All of these are part of my hidden secrets to you. You can never buy them in any open market,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Smaranda Ayorinde, said ABUAD had surged above its peers and those it met on ground.
Ayorinde said the university is currently ranked 84th in the world, third in Africa, and number one in Nigeria for four consecutive years, from 2022 to 2025, by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
She said that since the commencement of the medical programme in 2011, ABUAD had maintained uninterrupted academic sessions.
Ayorinde added that the university was also forging strategic partnerships with world-class institutions, including Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA, Marengo Asia Hospitals, and Cherami Investment Group.
Earlier, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, commended Babalola for establishing a world-class university and the 400-bed Afe Babalola Multi-System Hospital in the country.
Oba Ghandi, who was on a courtesy visit to the university, said the hospital had proven its worth by reducing the huge cost and strenuous process of travelling abroad for medical attention.
The traditional ruler also commended Babalola on the award of excellence conferred on him by Radio Nigeria, Progress FM, Ado-Ekiti.
