The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has criticized the federal government’s decision to bar students under 18 from gaining admission to universities in the country.

The legal icon described the new policy as unacceptable and retrogressive, arguing that it would deny brilliant and gifted children the opportunity to advance their careers at an early stage in life.

However, speaking to newsmen in his office on Thursday, Babalola emphasized that universities enjoy autonomy and should be allowed to use their discretion in admitting students for various programs, as is the practice in Western countries, rather than being subjected to government directives.

The elder statesman asserted that age has nothing to do with a nation’s growth and development and cautioned the government against implementing policies that could hinder the progress and aspirations of young citizens who could provide solutions to the nation’s challenges.

He expressed concern that Nigeria is absent from the list of countries that have produced young achievers, attributing this to inconsistent and retrogressive policies.

According to him, “You don’t just go out as a Minister of Education to direct universities against their autonomy regarding who to admit or who not to admit.

It is the duty of the university to exercise its discretion, and you can’t take that discretion away from them.

“In my view, the issue of age is a matter of discretion for the university, and let me say that we have been practicing this here.

“We have had students who came to ABUAD at 15 and graduated with First Class at the age of 19, and we will continue to do so.

“Imposing a minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions without exceptions is a problematic stance that will ultimately affect the dreams of younger generations,” he added.

He further stated, “Elaine Aron, the American psychologist and author of the international best-seller The Highly Sensitive Person, said, ‘What could we need more right now than people who think carefully, feel deeply, notice the subtle details, and end up having the big picture?’

“These four qualities are essential to nation-building. Age is not one of them, nor is it a requirement for acquiring any of them.

“Maturity is not a function of age. Rather, it is a function of mindset, emotional intelligence, and the ability to understand oneself and the world.

“Maturity is earned through training the mind, not through aging. Consequently, we have many adults who are anything but mature in how they think, act, or relate to others and the world they live in.

“Conversely, we have children who have defied all odds and achieved even the seemingly impossible.

“I am not surprised that no Nigerian was named among the young achievers in the world. This is because there are strategic policies that delay the laudable achievements of brilliant young minds until later ages. The proof of this assertion is all around us.

“Age is not maturity. Children today are demonstrating exceptional academic intelligence that is uncommon for their age.

I strongly believe that no child deserves to have his or her dreams impeded solely because of age.

“University autonomy includes, among other things, the discretion to waive the minimum age requirements for students who pass the minimum admission criteria and possess exceptional academic potential. This practice is common in the UK, Australia, Norway, and South Korea.

“It should not be within the competence of the Federal Government to disqualify students of certain ages from entering tertiary institutions after they have met all other admission requirements,” he said.

Babalola suggested that “we should not forge with our own hands the chains that will hamper the development of our gifted children. The minimum age requirement should also give universities the discretion to admit children below the age of sixteen who are endowed with exceptional ability.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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