Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has ignited a heated debate in Nigeria. He suggests that in Nigeria, the primary path to success is through politics, often involving the misappropriation of public funds while pretending to serve the people.
Speaking at ABUAD’s 11th convocation ceremony, the legal luminary lamented the diminishing significance of education, as politics takes the forefront. He recounted an incident where a brilliant first-class graduate, initially eager to pursue a master’s degree on a scholarship, chose to enter politics instead after witnessing a secondary school friend who never attended a higher institution achieve material success in the political arena.
Babalola expressed his distress, emphasizing that this phenomenon reflects a troubling reality in Nigeria. He highlighted that politics has become the most profitable enterprise in the country.
While not discouraging political aspirations, Babalola stressed the need for a more ethical approach to politics, focusing on public service rather than personal gain. He shared his personal experience, noting that he never profited financially during his tenure as Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor because he viewed these positions as opportunities for service, not wealth accumulation.
Babalola also underscored the nation’s dearth of strong leadership and high-quality education. He argued that what Nigeria truly requires is a robust educational system, as quality education empowers individuals and can ultimately address many of the nation’s problems.
The reality of Nigerian politicians sending their children abroad for the best education while accumulating wealth and properties domestically further underscores the allure of political positions, and this situation has raised concerns about the desperate measures some might take to enter the political arena.
