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Tag: Afe Babalola

  • Agric ’ll revive Nigeria’s economy, says Afe Babalola

    Agric ’ll revive Nigeria’s economy, says Afe Babalola

    •Warns on imminent food crisis

    Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has identified agriculture as the catalyst for the revival of the nation’s ailing economy.

    Babalola said the stark reality in face of the economic downturn occasioned by shortfall in oil revenue was that the citizenry must resuscitate the old glory of agriculture, which provided food, jobs and foreign exchange for the country.

    The legal icon, who is also a farmer, spoke at a four-day Agriculture Summit, organised by Ekiti State.

    He said the country was led into the predicament by what he called “misguided pursuit of oil wealth”.

    Babalola regretted the lack of interest by the younger generation in agriculture.

    “The trend has precariously placed Nigeria on the brink of a looming food crisis and rising cost of food prices,” he said.

    The former pro-chancellor of the University of Lagoslamented that Nigeria still imports food despite its huge agricultural potential.

    Babalola said the government, in collaboration with ABUAD, would organise a yearly agric festival to celebrate and encourage best farmers with awards and prizes just as the private university already started for best farmers in the 16 lcouncils of Ekiti State.

    He suggested that agricultural science be made compulsory and taught in elementary and secondary schools to stimulate interest in agriculture.

    Babalola said: “Universities must encourage students to study agriculture through reduction in school fees as exemplified by ABUAD, where there is 50 per cent reduction in tuition for students admitted to study agriculture.

    “In addition, graduates of agriculture must be empowered to practise their profession upon graduation just as ABUAD has been empowering its agriculture graduates with N250,000 for its initial start-up investment in any area of farming.

    “Across the country, each local government should be encouraged to ask different branches of families to come together and combine their lands, to work and generate large-scale industrial farming.

    “Also, local governments should encourage cooperative systems in each local government across states.

    “A pilot scheme can be initiated in each local government, whereby either 10 families or 10 cooperative societies will be assisted to acquire two hectares of land each for farming.

    “These two hectares of land will be inspected and supervised by a task force set up by the government in collaboration with ABUAD. The government will buy agricultural implements to plough the land for use during dry season.

    “Owners’ account will be debited for this job after harvest; the land will be ploughed and prepared against the rainy season. This singular pilot project will engineer food surplus in the society and money-making cash crops to provide wealth for families.”

    “For the government, no money will be lost and the government can recover all money invested.”

  • Afe Babalola canvasses better funding of varsity education

    Afe Babalola canvasses better funding of varsity education

    Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has canvassed a better funding of university education by corporate organisations, wealthy individuals and humanitarian organisations.

    He said they can support university education through donations, endowments and gifts, noting that universities in many parts of the world depend on funds independent of government.

    Babalola made the call at the weekend while delivering a keynote address at the investiture of Rotarian Bisi Adegoke as the 8th District Governor of Rotary International District 9125 Nigeria.

    The legal luminary expressed dismay at the failure of Nigerians to imbibe philanthropy despite being beneficiaries of same through missionaries and colonial masters.

    He urged governments to encourage philanthropy through tax subsidies and other incentives.

    The topic of the address is: “Imbibing a Vibrant Philosophy of Philanthropy as Catalyst for Driving the Provision of Qualitative Education in Nigeria: The Role of Rotary International.”

    Babalola, according to the address on Monday, stressed that poor funding of the subsector would make it impossible for universities to compete favourably with any of the top universities in the world, let alone drive innovation and maintain qualitative levels of delivery without donations and endowments from sources other than government.

    The ABUAD founder gave example of Stanford University in California, United States, which posts a present day value of $132 million generated mainly through endowments and donations.

     

  • Afe Babalola, Adejumo for forum

    Afe Babalola, Adejumo for forum

    THE Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria will hold its annual conference/ president’s dinner at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, today.

    The event is part of the institute’s commitment to facilitate and promote the administration and growth of arbitration and other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice and ethics in Nigeria.

    The institute’s Vice President, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, said the event would provide an opportunity for businesses and practitioners to discuss new trends and opportunities in the field of arbitration and mediation.

    The conference will hold under the chairmanship of Aare Afe Babalola,  president/chairman of the institute’s Governing Council.

    Speaking on the choice of this year’s ceremony, themed: “Optimising Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes in Nigeria”, Ajogwu said given the increased attention to arbitration and other ADR mechanisms in Nigeria and globally, it has become necessary for a campaign on ADR as the preferred dispute resolution option for Nigerians.

    The registered not-for-profit organisation has drawn up experts from the academia, judiciary, public and private sector to serve as discussants.

    The panel session of the conference will have the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo serving as chairman of the discussion.

    Adejumo will also speak on the “Role of the Courts in Supporting ADR in Industrial Disputes”.

    Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, will bring insight from a regulator’s viewpoint and will discuss Issues and Perspectives in Resolving Cabotage Disputes through ADR Mechanism.

  • Excitement as nurses relish Afe Babalola’s philanthropy

    Excitement as nurses relish Afe Babalola’s philanthropy

    Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) is the latest institution to benefit from the generosity of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, who laid the foundation stone of the nurses’ house he donated to the hospital’s branch of the, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM). ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    In many parts of Nigeria, the legacies of the founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, are evident  in terms of endowments, buildings, donations, scholarships and so on.

    Either in the courts of law, universities, polytechnics or hospitals, he has etched his name in immortality by touching lives through donation of buildings which serve different purposes.

    But now, the Midas touch is being felt the more in his native community of Ado-Ekiti where he is building projects that will continue to make his name relevant.

    At the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, the Administrative building which he built and donated still stands tall above other structures. The Bar Centre of the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) located inside the High Court premises in the city is another legacy worthy of mention.

    Also worthy of mention is the auditorium which he built for the Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti. He had built structures in places such as the University College Hospital, Ibadan and University of Lagos, among others.

    But the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) is the latest to host another iconic project to be built by, arguably one of the greatest philanthropists.

    The project is the Nurses’ House within the complex and it is being promoted by the hospital’s chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) which will serve as a multi-purpose centre.

    The administration officials and nurses at EKSUTH were excited about the Nurses’ House which will soon be added to some of the solid structures springing up at the premises of the hospital.

    The nurses sang, danced and threw banters. They praised Babalola whom they described as a “father indeed.”

    They performed a cultural dance in honour of the former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) who showed his dexterity in dancing to the music rendered in Ekiti dialect.

    It was no surprise that nurses and midwives in the hospital came out in large numbers to welcome Babalola, principal officers and other officials of ABUAD at the foundation-laying ceremony.

    Babalola was joined by his wife who is also the Chief Executive of ABUAD Ventures, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola; ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe; Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Olurotimi Sanya and the Bursar, Mr. Modupe Babalola, among others.

    EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, described nurses as the livewire of the hospital whose contributions are vital to health care delivery and smooth running of the complex.

    Ogundipe also praised Babalola for his philanthropy and generosity which have positively affected the lives of millions of people within and outside the country.

    He said: “It’s great having the nurses bring Baba here because there is no reason to fear on the funding of this project. The NBA House solely built by him is gigantic and we believe he will do it again for you here.

    “Without nurses, there will be no hospital. They are the ones that will be here when others have gone home. They are the pillars of the hospital; the management gave them a place to construct their building.

    “Nurses are trailblazers and we should all celebrate them. The hospital’s branches of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) are contributing money to put up their own buildings too.”

    The Chairman of Ekiti State NANNM, Ezekiel Fatomiluyi, described Babalola as a great man and father of Ekiti who has contributed immensely to the development of the state, and who is always ready to enhance the the lives of the people.

    While praising NANNM, EKSUTH chapter for the milestone, Fatomiluyi noted that this would be the first of its kind in any of the local chapters of the association.

    Fatomiluyi urged the nurses to be committed to their jobs because they are life savers who should not be denied their rights.

    Chairperson of EKSUTH-NANNM, Mrs Olufunke Adetoye said the nurses’ house is being named after Babalola because of his passion for excellence and service to humanity.

    She said: “The proposed building is being named after our Grand Patron. A self-made man endowed with much wisdom to take right decisions, who is a philanthropist and who has committed his all to the service of humankind.

    “I am talking of no other person than the founder of Afe Babalola University, a first-class university in Africa with full accreditation in all courses, including Nursing which is so rare to get accredited.

    “I am also soliciting the assistance of all in the completion of this project for use by EKSUTH community and generations yet unborn.”

    Mrs Adetoye revealed that the building will serve as nurses’ association secretariat and meeting place for congress, seminars and workshops for the advancement of the nursing profession.

    The building, she further said, will have an e-library section to  assist nurses in knowledge acquisition, research purposes, environment conducive to reading and also serve as a link to various academic pursuits.

    According to her, the building will equally house a crèche equipped with modern facilities to give nursing mothers among them confidence and a means of generating funds and a mini-mart where snacks and other provisions will be sold.

    In his remarks, the donor, Babalola noted that nurses deserved to be celebrated for their selfless service to humankind and commitment to health care delivery.

    He described the project as a worthy one that should be supported for the advancement of the nursing profession, acquisition of knowledge and research.

    The ABUAD founder said he would never be tired of giving because he knew what it was to be poor; having tasted poverty while growing up, adding that he is always inspired to assist the less privileged persons.

    Babalola said: “It is a crime not to have a target and it is a pity that most of us don’t set targets.

    “My first salary was one pound and after my school certificate examination, it rose to five pounds and it was from it that I was sponsoring my younger ones. Giving to people makes me happy. It also makes the receiver happy.

    “Do not wait to have N200, 000 before you can give; as nurses, always thank God and know that there are people who are not as privileged as you are.

    “I want you to contribute to this project no matter how small, give the little you have for us to do it together. Come to ABUAD for your degree, it will lead to your Master’s and PhD. Aim high, don’t aim low.

    “Nurses here should be celebrated for coming up with the plan of putting up this building to enhance the nursing profession. I have since discovered that the spirit of giving is lacking among us.

    “We have a situation where people ask government to give everything but you can also contribute the little you have to assist the government because government cannot do everything.”

    Babalola also called on authorities to make the welfare of nurses and other health professionals top priority to prevent crisis in the health sector which leads to strikes.

    He said further: “The nursing profession has maintained a high standard. If other people do what they are doing, our country will not be where it is today.

    “Life is very important. They (nurses) make life; they deserve to be given adequate compensation. I see nurses like priests and doctors; I don’t expect a pastor to go on strike against his flock.

    “Nurses and doctors should not go on strike by virtue of their professions. I want to appeal to government to pay due regards to nurses and doctors. They should not be allowed to go on strike and government should always meet their needs.”

    He was joined by his wife and other dignitaries present to lay the foundation stone amid songs of praises to God for making the project a reality.

     

  • Afe Babalola deplores unending strikes by workers

    Afe Babalola deplores unending strikes by workers

    •ABUAD founder lays foundation of Nurses’ House at EKSUTH

    The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has decried the unending spate of strikes by workers in public service.

    He said both the government and the workers were to blame for the situation.

    The legal luminary spoke at the weekend while laying the foundation stone of the Afe Babalola Nurses’ House he is building for the Ekiti State University (EKSUTH) chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

    Babalola said the construction of the building was his own way of identifying with nurses and appreciating their selfless service, commitment and diligence in the health sector.

    The ceremony was witnessed by the donor’s wife, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, ABUAD Vice Chancellor Prof. Michael Ajisafe and the university’s other principal officers and EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, who led other management workers to the ceremony.

    The building, when completed, will serve as the EKSUTH NANNM Secretariat. It will be equipped with facilities like an e-library, a crèche, a mini mart, among others.

    Speaking with reporters after performing the groundbreaking ceremony, Babalola stressed that nurses deserve to be celebrated as their impact is being felt in the society and nothing should be spared in giving them support.

    Apparently alluding to the ongoing strike in Ekiti State, which has since been joined by health workers, the renowned philanthropist said it was abnormal for professionals like nurses and doctors, who deal with human lives, to be going on strike.

    He urged the authorities concerned not to joke with workers’ welfare.

    He said: “By and large, the nursing profession has maintained a high standard. If other people do what they doing, our country will not be where it is today.

    “Life is very important; they make life and they deserve to be given adequate compensation. I see nurses like priests and doctors who are not expected to go on strike. I don’t expect a pastor to go on strike against his flock.

    “Nurses and doctors should not go on strike by virtue of their professions and I want to appeal to government to pay due regards to nurses and doctors. They should not be allowed to go on strike; government should always meet their needs.

    “We abuse everything in Nigeria, including strike. The way strike is often applied in this country is far from the way it is carried out in places like Europe. It is like we are not ripe for independence

    “Workers hardly go on strike in Europe, no matter what. And when there is the need to do so, such strike action does not last more than two hours before they return back to their work. We should follow the law and due process in all things we do because both the government and workers going on strike are guilty.”

    Babalola advised nurses desirous of further training to come over to ABUAD, which is reputed to have one of the best nursing departments in Nigeria for their master’s and doctorate degrees.

    Urging the nurses to contribute towards the execution of the project, Babalola called on Nigerians to always give in support of worthy causes and projects since government cannot do it alone.

    He added: “The only time I am happy is the time I give. It makes me happy and it makes the receiver happy. It is not when you have up to N200,000 that you can give. So, I want you (nurses) to contribute to this project, give the little you can for all us to do it together.”

    The EKSUTH boss hailed the contribution of nurses in the health institution, describing them as “the pillars and trailblazers in the hospital.”

    He used the opportunity to call on striking doctors to come back to work for normal medical activities to return.

    Chairperson of NANNM, EKSUTH branch, Mrs. Olufunke Adetoye, said the proposed building would be named after Babalola, who is a grand patron of the association, in appreciation of his support and philanthropic gestures.

    Mrs. Adetoye described ABUAD as a “first class university in Africa” with full accreditation in all courses, including nursing, which is so rare to get accredited.

    She added that Babalola deserves to have the Nurses’ House named after him.

  • Afe Babalola counsels varsities on self-sustenance

    Afe Babalola counsels varsities on self-sustenance

    THE Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has advised universities to engage in ventures that will make them self-sustainable and impact positively on their immediate environment.

    Babalola, who spoke yesterday while hosting officials of a South African investment firm, AFRO BOIS, said his university is setting the pace in the areas of investment in businesses to make profit and create more jobs for the citizens.

    He explained that his university decided to invite the team from South Africa for the purpose of finding ready market for its Teak Trees.

    The legal luminary said the trees run into over one million stands among other export products grown on the institution’s large expanse of farms.

    The former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos said diversifying to areas other than academics would make universities financially strong and less dependent on their owners.

    Apart from investment in business, Babalola said ABUAD has become a model in academic excellence as it now ranks as the second best private university in Nigeria.

    Babalola told the guests from the former apartheid enclave that ABUAD has invested in ventures like merchandise, hospitality, farming, fishing, bakery, laundry, food processing, fruit juice processing and general consultancy.

    He added that the university is building a teaching hospital to provide quality medical training and healthcare delivery, which will soon be ready for inauguration.

    Babalola said: “We are not only good academically, we are also showing others how to imbibe spirit of self-sustainability.”

    The leader of AFRO BOIS delegation, Mike Burgess, explained that there is presently a global market for timber.

    He said trees produced by ABUAD Farms have the capacity of being processed for marketing.

    Burgess added that his organisation deals majorly in agricultural products, lumbering marketing and processing.

    He noted that facilities on parade in ABUAD are second to none as he never believed a Nigerian university could have such high number of ventures under its control.

    Burgess said: “We have a global market in many countries of the world for products such like teak and gmelina, which are produced here in commercial quantity. If you allow us to work with you, we can turn this to a big business.

    “We will help you find the market, the technology and the know-how. We have gone round. The trees are quality ones not only in teak but also in gmelina.”

    He said the growth of the university within six years of its existence is phenomenal.

    The university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, said the institution would continue to live by its mission statement of returning the nation’s education to its days of glory.

  • Afe Babalola advocates rule of law

    Afe Babalola advocates rule of law

    Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has urged the government to respect the rule of law.

    He said no society can thrive where this is absent.

    Babalola spoke during the 2016 annual lecture of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ado-Ekiti held at the Bar Centre, Ado-Ekiti.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama gave the keynote address.

    The lecture, in its fifth edition, is named after Babalola.

    Babalola said: “Rule of law begins at home. When you are at home and you respect elders, that is the rule of law. Rule of law is about all you do in life; it is obedience to simple instructions, like in the university. “If the rule says do not use phones at so, so, and so time, please respect it – that is the rule of law.  If the law says do not smoke marijuana, please don’t smoke it. Do things the right way, when you do things the right way, everything shall be well. All of you can make it better than J-K Gadzama and the Presiding Judge, Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti here present if you do things well.”

    The eminent jurist backed Gadzama’s bid to run for NBA presidency.

    He said: “Gadzama is the most suitable of all Senior Advocates I know today to head the Bar. He came from a small village in Lassa in Borno State, where he started his practice from a very humble beginning.

    “I sympathise with Gadzama because his village has been destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents and I can’t tell the last time he went home.

    “He rose from a humble beginning to greatness because he is a determined person, who wants to make it in life.

    “His achievements are not only in this country, but also overseas. He was at the London School of Economics, he was also called to the English Bar, Lincolns Inn, where both of us share a common experience.

    “You don’t start to be great by being great, you become great by aspiring to be great and by doing great things. Gadzama is humble, he is very honest, very industrious, well learned, most resourceful, innovative and has brought many changes in the practice of law.

    “Gadzama is a Bar man to the core, a very steadfast person and an ardent believer in the rule of law. The rule of law is very important to the legal profession. He is detribalised, indeed, he is replicating what he learned from me.

    “He is influential and well connected and you need to make any impact in the practice of law. Gadzama has what is required of a leader and very intimidating starture. He doesn’t need a walking stick to make him look big.  I belong to the Bar, I love the Bar and have no regrets for being a lawyer.”

    He commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ekiti State, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi for initiating the lecture series when he was Chairman NBA Ado-Ekiti.

    Babalola also commended the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Foluke Dada for making the 2016 edition a great success

    Ajayi described Babalola as an enigma, who has “touched virtually everything  and has become a master of all,” adding that “people like Afe come once in a generation.”

    Governor Ayo Fayose, Ajayi said, values Babalola and refers to him as “the father of Ekiti State and the Pillar of his government.”

  • Afe Babalola condemns scrapping of Post-UTME Test

    Afe Babalola condemns scrapping of Post-UTME Test

    Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado EKITI (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the Post-Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test.

    Speaking on the issue at the weekend, the legal luminary said he was shocked by the action, which he described as a “calamitous mistake, which poses danger and irreversible adverse effect on quality of education in Nigeria”.

    Babalola said he was taken aback that “such a far-reaching decision could be taken without due and adequate consideration for how the concept of the Post-UTME came into being”.

    The former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) said the concept of the Post-UTME test came into being in 2003 when it was discovered that “many of the students admitted into Nigerian universities through JAMB were not only academically deficient, but couldn’t justify the high marks they scored at JAMB examinations”.

    He spoke of cases where JAMB examination papers were being openly sold to students at examination centres while some examination centres dubbed miracle centres were openly but unofficially designed to guarantee high marks for some candidates.

    According to him, the most pathetic aspect of the saga was that it was later discovered that most of these students with such high marks were unable to cope academically upon their being admitted to the universities.

    Babalola said: “It was at this point of this national embarrassment that the Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities under my chairmanship, met in Abuja, x-rayed the cankerworm and recommended to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that JAMB should be scrapped because the integrity of its examinations has been called to question.

    “I must stress at this point that the introduction of Post-UTME was not decided by the Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities alone. The matter was thrown open with contributions from stakeholders and interested and concerned members of the different strata of the society.

    “However, government in its wisdom, decided to adopt a middle way approach to the matter by saying that JAMB should continue to be and conduct its business of qualifying examinations to tertiary institutions in Nigeria while Post-UTME should be introduced.

    “This translates to the fact that JAMB will be used as the basis for admission into Nigerian universities, but the universities are free to conduct screening exercises, which include administering questions in relevant courses, for their would-be students.

    “The Post-UTME had proved to be a veritable quality control measure, which I believed had been working and working well. For example, the first Post-UTME we conducted at the University of Lagos, where I was then the pro chancellor and chairman of council, yielded positive dividends.

    “There was this student, with a very impressive result, who applied to study Law. Since English Literature was and still central to the admission of students to study Law, he was asked if he knew a novel called “Things Fall Apart” and he answered in the affirmative. We then asked him if he knew the author. The hall was filled with consternation when the young man named the late General Sani Abacha as the author of Things Fall Apart.

    “With the above scenario, it became crystal clear that Nigerian universities are no places candidates should come to with compromised and procured results.”

    He added: “This singular example underscores the place and import of the Post-UTME, which is being touted as haven been cancelled! As a result of the introduction of the Post-UTME, the quantum of students who were asked to withdraw because they could neither defend the high marks they are parading nor cope academically upon admission, dropped considerably.

    “Besides and in any event, those who were using JAMB to get jumbo marks also reduced while JAMB and its results became more credible. With the innovative measures introduced by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB’s helmsman, to re-invent the examination body, its results have become a lot more credible.

    “It must be emphasised that every university has the right to screen the candidates it wants to admit. It also has the right to embark on other exercises, whether written or unwritten, to make it and its products stand out.

    “For example, in the University of Oxford, any student applying to study Law, is mandatorily required to take the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), any student applying for Biomedical Sciences must take Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), any student applying for Chemistry must take Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) while any one applying for Classics must take Classics Admission Test (CAT).

    “However, such universities should not set out to profit from such exercises as they are not money making ventures. Students should only be made to pay minimal fees to cover the cost of papers and other logistics like we do in our university, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, where each student pays only N10,000 for the Post-UTME.”

  • Afe Babalola endorses Gadzama for NBA president

    Afe Babalola endorses Gadzama for NBA president

    Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has endorsed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its Annual General Conference in August.

    Babalola said he found Gadzama the most suitable out of the members of the Inner Bar seeking to become the NBA President.

    He described the aspirant as experienced, learned, resourceful and innovative to lead the lawyers’ body.

    The legal luminary gave the endorsement on Monday at the 6th Afe Babalola Annual Lecture of the NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch, which was delivered by Gadzama to round off this year’s Law Week.

    The theme for this year’s Law Week was “Upholding the Rule of Law” and the topic of the lecture delivered by Gadzama was “Strict Adherence to the Rule of Law, a Veritable Machinery for National Growth.”

    The event also marked the last Law Week to be organised by the Ado-Ekiti NBA Executive led by its Chairman, Dr. Foluke Dada, before leaving office in the next few weeks.

    The lecture was chaired by Justice Ahmad Belgore of Ado-Ekiti Division of the Court of Appeal, who described Babalola as a “great man who has positively affected his generation”.

    Endorsing Gadzama, Babalola said: “I know that this man is the most suitable of all SANs today to head the Bar. He is very, very humble, he is very, very honest, he is very industrious and he is well learned and knowledgeable.

    “This man is most resourceful, he is very innovative, he is a Bar man to the core, he believes in the rule of law and that is very important for our profession.

    “He is a totally detribalised man, he is influential and connected and he has an intimidating stature.”

    Babalola noted that adherence to the rule of law must start from the home and must be practised by all to have an orderly society.

    Gadzama, in his lecture, urged lawyers and members of the Judiciary to keep protecting the rule of lawful being eroded by powers-that-be.

    He described the rule of law as the foundation for orderliness and stability in the polity.

    According to him, adherence to the rule of law has rubbed off positively on the economy of the most developed nations like Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Singapore.

    The NBA presidential aspirant called on the citizenry to support the anti-corruption crusade of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, but advised that the fight must be done within the ambit of the law.

    Gadzama explained: “I am of the view that the government of the day must be instructed by lawyers and judges to fight corruption because no well-meaning Nigerian should be expected to refuse to give it a helping hand.

    “All Nigerians must support the anti-corruption drive, but the fight must be done within the ambit of the law. With the rule of law, you can secure the conviction of a suspect and it is not through continuous incarceration or detention.”

    Gadzama promised to unfold his manifesto on June 1, in the run-up to the NBA presidential poll.

    He promised to carry out policies that would better the lots of young lawyers and promote the rule of law.

  • Afe Babalola hinges Nigeria’s growth on regional govts

    Afe Babalola hinges Nigeria’s growth on regional govts

    •Malaysia hails Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade

    Nigeria will overcome its social, political and economic problems with the operation of regional system of government, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), said at the weekend.

    Babalola spoke at the maiden edition of Diplomatic Dialogue, a programme organised by the university’s Department of International Relations and Diplomacy.

    It featured Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Lim Juay Jin as guest speaker.

    The legal luminary argued that Nigeria, as presently constituted, was too large to be managed by one central government.

    But he noted that establishment and strengthening of regional governments under a loose federalism would help accelerate its growth.

    According to him, Malaysia, which has a population of 30 million people, could develop at a record pace because it has a manageable population, hence its ability to compete in terms of development with many western countries.

    Babalola said: “I have attended three constitutional conferences in Nigeria and return to regional government has always been my position. Nigeria consists of over 300 ethnic groups and with different religious bias. So, what we need is confederation or loose federalism, where each region will be allowed to grow at its own pace and contribute to the centre.

    “This has been the practice in USA, Australia and Canada. But in Nigeria, we have a central government, where only one person determines what happens everywhere. In the past, we had regional governments where each was allowed to develop and Nigeria was better off then.

    “Nigeria has six geopolitical zones and these can be allowed to function as component parts and Nigeria will be good for it.  During the regional government, Nigeria was growing faster. Malaysia is a very small country with a population of about 30 million and this makes it easy to govern.

    “If Nigeria has been operating the regional government, we would have developed even better than Malaysia. Our fore-fathers considered the population, land and resources as very large; that was why they introduced regional government. It has always been the smaller, the better.”

    In his lecture, Jin assured that Malaysia would strengthen its business relations with Nigeria because of the integrity of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and its anti-corruption crusade.

    The ambassador added that no fewer than 9,000 Nigerian students were studying in Malaysian universities because of quality tertiary education, which obtains in the Asian country.

    He said the students were studying at all levels of education, including undergraduate, masters as well as doctoral studies.

    The envoy attributed the development to availability of facilities, affordable fees, friendly learning environment, quality tutors, good governance and stable economy, comparable to what obtained in Europe and America.

    Jin said the GDP of his country with a population of just 30 million people, stands at $237 billion while her per capita income is $8,800.

    He said Malaysia was also doing well in the areas of agriculture, especially palm oil, which he said his country that gained independence from Britain in 1957 had been able to use to its advantage.

    The diplomat, who expressed the desires of his country to further deepen its bilateral relations with Nigeria, noted that a total of 450 Nigerians had so far attended Nigeria/Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP).