Quality education not enough to guarantee bright future, says Babalola

For undergraduates to be guaranteed good quality education and to develop good character, their parents must partner school authorities to enforce discipline and get the former to abide by the rules and regulations of such schools.

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), who made the submission recently also stressed that good quality education alone was incapable of guaranteeing youths the bright future they desire if it does not go hand-in-hand with good character training.

Babalola while speaking at the 7th matriculation ceremony of the institution lamented the lackadaisical attitude displayed by some parents when it comes to tending their children/wards.

At the event where 1, 513 students were administered the matriculation oath, the legal luminary who insisted that many parents do not know the character of their children, urged the freshmen to obey all laid down rules and regulations and shun illegal groups during their sojourn.

He expressed deep dissatisfaction with the behaviour of some students saying, “With my six years experience with these students, since the establishment of this school, I have discovered that you parents do not know your children. The experience I have gathered in six years is more than the entire experience in my over 53 years in the legal profession.

“My generation’s conduct is very different from that of this generation, and I find it difficult to mould characters here because of some students who refuse to comply with our regulations,” he cried.

“In education, we need two hands to train our students to graduation. I want you parents to join hands with this university to give deep learning and character to these students. I decided to establish a university that is unique and show example of how a university should be run.

“We intend to mould good character here, but I find it difficult to mould character because of the kind of students they have mingled with in the secondary schools. I want you to please attend Parents Teachers Consultative Forum to handle this situation,” the legendary legal practitioner appealed.

While describing the matriculation ceremony as an important milestone in their lives, he cautioned them not to bungle such opportunity but make it count.

Vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, admonished the students to avoid bad company and “shun vices and anti-social behaviours, which are capable of ruining your otherwise very bright and luxuriant future. Remember that the university has codes of conduct, with appropriate and commensurate sanctions for infractions…”