Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has earned global recognition, receiving the ‘2024 Chinese Plus Digital & Intelligent Education Gold Medal Cooperative Institution FYZ’ award at the World Chinese Language Conference in Beijing, China, on November 17, 2024. The prestigious event, attended by 2,000 participants — including global dignitaries, scholars, and government officials—celebrated ABUAD’s commitment to educational excellence and China-Nigeria collaboration.
Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde, ABUAD’s Vice-Chancellor, accepted the award, marking another milestone in the university’s remarkable 15-year journey. Known for its innovative programs, ABUAD has consistently earned top national and international accolades. Recently, it was ranked by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings as the world’s number one institution in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and in global outreach and stewardship.
Kevin Liu, Deputy General Manager of China-Africa Investment FZC, commended ABUAD’s dedication to fostering educational partnerships between China and Nigeria. He emphasized that the award reflects the university’s role in strengthening ties and advancing joint industry-education initiatives. Chinese President Xi Jinping also underscored the importance of global linguistic integration in his congratulatory message, highlighting China’s commitment to supporting international Chinese language education.
ABUAD’s pioneering introduction of Chinese language studies in 2011 has yielded tangible benefits. Many students have secured scholarships and employment opportunities, including roles at multinational firms like Huawei Technologies. The university’s curriculum, which also emphasizes Nigeria’s major languages (Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo), reflects founder Aare Afe Babalola’s vision of a culturally and globally connected education system.
Celebrating the achievement, Aare Afe Babalola reaffirmed the university’s commitment to excellence and collaboration with stakeholders, including regulatory bodies and parents. This latest accolade solidifies ABUAD’s position as a trailblazer in higher education, fostering cross-cultural exchange and preparing students for a globalized world.
