Afe Babalola Urges Lecturers to Embrace Innovative Teaching

The founder and chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has called on university lecturers to move away from outdated teaching methods and adopt innovative strategies that foster curiosity and deep learning. He made the remarks on Thursday at the two-day Train-the-Trainer Workshop on Teaching Pedagogy, held at the Alfa Belgore Hall of ABUAD.

Babalola emphasized the enduring power of storytelling as a tool for effective teaching, urging academics to “know your subject, plan your lessons well, and teach in a way that leaves a lasting impression on the learner.” According to him, storytelling remains a potent method to engage students, stimulate curiosity, and facilitate knowledge retention.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Michael Faborode, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, outlined a roadmap for ABUAD’s growth as a world-class institution. He highlighted the importance of balancing academic excellence with societal relevance and innovation while urging lecturers to embrace the global shift from “Publish or Perish” to “Publish, Produce, and Prosper” by turning research into patents, innovations, and commercial value.

Vice-Chancellor Professor E. Smaranda Olarinde described the workshop as a strategic initiative to sustain ABUAD’s leadership in higher education. She emphasized that pedagogy is now a deliberate, reflective, and innovative practice, requiring continuous professional development to equip academics with the skills, ethical grounding, and mindset needed to thrive in a fast-changing, technology-driven learning environment.

The workshop underscored ABUAD’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and societal impact. Professor Olarinde urged participants to implement the lessons learned in lectures, laboratories, studios, and research projects, stressing that the collective efforts of lecturers, students, staff, and alumni are central to the university’s mission of achieving global recognition.