During the 11th convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University, Afe Babalola, the founder of the institution, expressed his concern that politics has overshadowed education in Nigeria, becoming the most profitable venture. He recounted an incident where a first-class graduate turned down the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in favor of entering politics after observing a secondary school friend achieve material success as a local government chairman despite not attending a university. This incident exemplified the shift where politics is viewed as a lucrative business, while education takes a backseat.
Afe Babalola emphasized that he does not discourage political ambitions but highlighted that politics should primarily be about service, not personal financial gain. He stated that the dearth of ethical values in contemporary politics is a concerning trend.
Babalola noted that strong leadership and quality education are critical for the nation. He further added that people should be motivated to pursue an education that grants them power, enabling them to contribute positively to society.
The lawyer and educationist stressed the importance of redirecting the focus from politics as a source of wealth to a platform for public service, emphasizing the need for quality education to empower individuals and the nation as a whole.
