Babalola urges secessionists to learn from China
China to support Nigeria on education, science, tech
FOUNDER of Afe Babalola University, Ado- Ekiti ( ABUAD), Afe Babalola, has cautioned the secessionists seeking the balkanisation of the country to learn from China on how it utilised its diversity for greatness.
Babalola stated this, yesterday, during the first InterContinental Universities Conference, hosted by the institution in collaboration with China- Africa Discourse Studies ( CECADS), with the theme: “Building Bridges for Advancing the SDG: Enhancing Inter- University Scientific Collaboration between Africa and China,” at the university’s campus in Ado- Ekiti.
According to the legal icon, most people believed that the size of China, couple with the large number of tribes and languages, were responsible for its underdevelopment, just as many Nigerians also believed that the large number of tribes and languages is also responsible for her underdevelopment.
"However, China, which is like an elephant to a sheep or dog, has today taken advantage of its population to achieve a huge success and become one of the first three civilised countries in the world.
"Those who are advocating that Nigeria should be balkanised should learn from how China took advantage of its size, population and manpower to become one of the leading civilised and industrialised countries in the world."
In her remarks, ConsulGeneral of the People's Republic of China, Yan Yuqing, reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting the development of Nigeria’s education system.
Yuqing said that her country would cooperate more with Nigeria in the field of higher education, explore support for more outstanding Nigerian students to study in China and Chinese students to come to Nigeria for exchange, and support more joint scientific research among universities.
She said that Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa has great potential for development in terms of science, technology and innovation, talent development and technology- driven innovation.
Also, in his keynote address, Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission ( NUC), Chris Maiyaki, said that the AfricaAsia Inter- Continental Universities Conference represents a significant opportunity to build bridges across the continents, by bringing together academics, researchers, diplomats, and other experts from Africa and China, including students.