Aare Afe Babalola, a Nigerian philanthropist and lawyer, has donated £10 million to King’s to establish the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Education. This Centre aims to provide educational opportunities to young Africans who may not have access to them otherwise. It will offer blended and online programs, including post-graduate level modules that can be used to obtain diplomas and Masters’s degrees. Scholarships will also be provided to support bright students who would not be able to access these programs otherwise. The Centre will partner with the University of London and other leading African universities to offer a bespoke program for Africa. The program will focus on topics that provide students with society-relevant knowledge and skills that can improve their lives, communities, and futures.
King’s and the University of London have a longstanding commitment to Africa and have worked collaboratively with African academics and institutions to provide education and impactful research partnerships in the region. For example, King’s established the African Leadership Centre in Kenya to develop a new community of African leaders, and the University of London has a long-standing relationship with Nigeria’s National Universities Commission. In addition, King’s Global Health Partnerships works with health facilities, academic institutions, and governments in four countries to improve the quality of care.
The University of London, which pioneered distance learning in the 19th century, currently provides online and distance education programs to 45,000 learners studying from home around the world. Aare Afe Babalola is an example of the life-changing opportunities afforded by higher education, having graduated with degrees in Economics and Law from the University of London while studying remotely in Nigeria.
Nigerian lawyer Afe Babalola donates £10 million to King’s College London
