| Media, Branding and Communications Department
Prof. Foluso Ojewole presents plaque to Mr. Olalekan Ogunbawo
Associate Vice President, Research, Innovation and International Collaboration, Prof. Foluso Ojewole presents plaque to Founders Day guest speaker, Mr. Olalekan Ogunbawo, veteran Nigerian broadcast journalist, media executive, and former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Civil Service. With them is Babcock University President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole.
Staff and Faculty form the South East making their cultural presenting.
The South South cultural group pose for photograph after their presentation.
Founders Day Guest Lecturer, Mr. Olalekan Ogunbawo and Prof. Afolarin Ojewole (5th and 6th left) with other BU officers.
South South group present the President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole with a symbolic gift of a bowler hat during their cultural presentation preceding the Founders Day lecture.
A cross section of faculty members at the lecture.
Staff and faculty of the South South group making their cultural presentation
The South West Cultural group
Prof. Afolarin Ojewole receives Babcock University Founders day guest speaker, Mr. Olalekan Ogunbanwo, veteran Nigerian ajournalist in his office.
Resilience, impact and growth topped the lecture as the Babcock University community gathered at the Amphitheatre to celebrate the 67th Founders Day and 27th Anniversary as a private University. Delivered by Mr. Olalekan Ogunbanwo, a veteran Nigerian broadcast journalist, media executive, and former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Civil Service, his presentation, “Measuring Impact, Gauging Growth: The Ilishan-Remo Story of Babcock University,” highlighted the institution’s resilience, transformative mission, and alignment with global sustainable development goals.
Mr. Ogunbawo reflected on the University’s humble beginnings with seven students as the Adventist College of West Africa (ACWA) in 1959, its resilience through the civil war of 1967 - 1970, and the renaming to the Adventist Seminary of West Africa (ASWA) in 1975. He emphasized the affiliation with Andrews University as a pivotal point that ensured sustainability and international recognition.
He shared a personal testimony of a student he sponsored from a government-run remand home who, through Babcock’s nurturing environment, became a confident, independent young woman now preparing for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. This story, he noted, embodies the University’s mission of transforming lives.
Mr. Ogunbawo also celebrated the growth of Ilishan-Remo itself — from a rustic town to a thriving community — mirroring the University’s expansion and diversification of courses noting, “If the early pioneers could see what their work has grown into, they would bow in awe to God,”
Aside these, his lecture on Babcock’s transformational journey and impact, goes beyond the community. It reflects its alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its commitment to Quality Education (SDG 4) is evident in its diverse academic programs and student-centered initiatives. By fostering resilience, inclusivity, and community development, the University contributes to Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).
As Babcock University continues to expand its influence, the Founders Day lecture serves as a reminder of the institution’s enduring mission: to provide holistic education rooted in faith, resilience, and service. The University remains committed to nurturing leaders who will drive sustainable growth in Nigeria and beyond.
In his remarks, President/Vice Chancellor Prof. Afolarin Ojewole expressed heartfelt appreciation to the lecturer, community members and partners: “This celebration is not just about our past, but about the future we are building together. I thank every member of our community for their unwavering commitment to the vision of Babcock University.”