The President/Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, has urged academic staff to prioritise excellence, innovation and research as the institution prepares for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Ojewole made the call on October 12, 2026, during an Academic Council workshop organised by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at the university in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
Addressing faculty members, he said the university’s greatness would not be measured by slogans or rankings alone but by the consistent efforts of individuals to deliver excellent work.
“Do excellent work. Do your best,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor outlined his vision of a university respected for scholarship, trusted for character, known for innovation, recognised for its graduates and, above all, faithful to God.
He stressed the importance of integrating faith, scholarship, innovation and human values while pursuing global relevance without losing the institution’s identity.
“Babcock should be a university where faith and scholarship are not strangers, where excellence and humanity live together, where innovation does not disconnect from values, and where global relevance does not mean loss of identity,” he said.
Ojewole also highlighted the university’s GRACE Agenda, which guides his administration’s strategy to strengthen Babcock’s global visibility and relevance.
He encouraged faculty members to embrace innovation and take risks, noting that mistakes were a necessary part of progress.
“There can be no innovation without mistakes. There is no wrong question, no wrong idea, and no dumb individual here,” he said.
As part of efforts to strengthen academic research and the university’s global profile, the Vice-Chancellor pledged to increase budgetary support for research and publications.
He also announced plans to overhaul the university’s website by the end of 2026, making it more interactive and ensuring that its content is regularly updated.
The workshop provided a platform for faculty members to discuss shared accountability in implementing academic policies and strengthening the university’s academic standards.
Babcock University’s growing reputation for scholarship and values-driven education has also been reflected in its performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, where it ranked eighth nationally and third among private universities in Nigeria.
The institution said the ranking further positioned it to strengthen its role as a faith-based university that combines scholarship and values while pursuing global relevance without losing its identity.
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