The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Afe Babalola

  • Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize excites Afe Babalola

    AFE Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Founder Aare Afe Babalola, SAN has expressed his excitement for winning the 2018 Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize award.

    The frontline lawyer was named the winner of the prize by the selection committee chairman and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at the unveiling of the new look Tribune at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.

    Anyaoku said: “Afe Babalola had distinguished himself in the provision of quality education just like the sage, advocacy for the masses through legal intervention and other means and, therefore, deserves the award.”

    His emergence as the latest winner of the prestigious award came after former South African President Mr. Thabo Mbeki won the award in 2014.

    Earlier in 2012, Nobel Prize winner Prof. Wole Soyinka won the award. Chief

    Speaking on the feat of winning the award, Chief Babalola said: “When I heard the news, I was very happy. It was a minister, who called my attention to the announcement.

    “I am happy that my contributions in the field of education is being rewarded by the reputable Obafemi Awolowo Foundation. That I am found worthy to be equated with the sterling leadership qualities of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, especially in the area of education, excites me and I am encouraged.

    On the uniqueness of the award, Babalola said: “It was in 2016 that the London University awarded LLD (Honoris Causa) for my landmark achievements. I was the third African, apart from President Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu, to be given such award.

    “I understand that the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize has only been won by two persons, Prof.  Wole Soyinka and former South African President Dr. Thabo Mbeki, since inception. This speaks to the profundity of the award.”

    The ABUAD founder asked well-spirited individuals to join him in the task of building the nation, especially in giving back to the society, to make it better than it was.

    “Like I keep saying, I want Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of giving. All about ABUAD is about giving back to the society to make it better than one met it.

    “Harvard University, Oxford University, among others, were donated by well-spirited individuals. Wealthy and public-spirited Nigerians are admonished to do more in the area of giving back to the society,” he said.

  • Sino-Nigeria relations: China honours Afe Babalola, Obaseki, 46 other Nigerians

    THE Chinese government yesterday honoured the founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola SAN, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and 46 other Nigerians for their role in deepening China-Nigeria relations.Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Zhou Pingjian awarded certificates of recognition and N4.8 million cash to the recipients at a ceremony in Lagos to mark the 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year, tagged Year of the Pig.

    Other honourees included Ekiti State Deputy Governor Chief Bisi Egbeyemi and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Prof. Bola Akinterinwa.

    Pingjian said his country’s relations with Nigeria are at their peak.

    “China-Nigeria relations are at their best in history – you can feel it, I can feel it,” he told a packed gathering of his countrymen, Nigerian and international participants at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki.

    He pledged his country’s commitment to increased trade and other socio-economic partnerships with Nigeria, especially following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Belt and Road cooperation signed by President Xi Jinping and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Chinese Consulate-General in Lagos noted that 2018 witnessed “tangible progress” in China-Nigeria relations.

    He said: “The bilateral trade between the two countries reached $13.53 billion from January to November 2018 with a 9.3 per cent year-on-year growth.

    “A large number of cooperative projects are vigorously promoted by both sides, such as Mambila Power Project, Lekki Deep Seaport, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Railway line, etc.”

    Obaseki praised the Chinese for their ability to blend in with Nigerians.

  • ASUU strike: Afe Babalola decries poor funding of varsity education

    The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti(ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), has decried the poor funding of public universities, saying this  accounts for the despicable condition of university education in the country.

    Babalola said  the Federal Government has consistently underfunded  the education sector, with government allocating only seven percent of the national budget to education.

    He spoke at  ABUAD yesterday during a ceremony marking the 9th anniversary of the commencement of academic activities in the university, where the management members , led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe,  were present.

    He said: “it is worrisome that the FG could earmark seven  percent budgetary allocation to fund education, when the United Nations Educational and Socio Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) recommended 26 per cent.

    “I have been Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos(UNILAG) and I knew that the universities lack facilities and equipment to be of high standard.

    “In our universities, students are not resident in schools, some stay outside the lecture theatres to receive lectures, some even use forest as toilets , Lecturers are not paid as and when due, all these are intolerable.

    “FG must look for funds to make our universities be of high standard.UNESCO recommended 26 percent, but FG still allots as  low as seven percent to education. FG must increase allocations to universities and monitor how the monies are appropriated, because accountability has always been our problem.”

    He said   that  the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) was justified in its ongoing nationwide strike and agitations on proper funding of the universities among other demands made by the union.

    “ASUU’s case is strong this time and I support them in spite of the fact that I have been criticizing them in recent past, but I stand with them this time.

    “ASUU alleged that over 70 percent of the projects in our universities are uncompleted for lack of funds and corruption, this is wrong.

    “In ABUAD, we complete our projects in time. We built our planetorium within six months, some federal universities started theirs  10  years ago and they have not completed it”, he said.

    Babalola explained that ABUAD has attained enviable height and become one of the best universities in Nigeria within nine years of its operation because the management works extra hard to make its vision a reality

    “In the law school examinations conducted in 2018, 12 ABUAD students got first class with one emerging overall best. They presented 36 prizes and our students carted away 24 of them. This shows that ABUAD is an haven where sharpening of intellectual mind is our priority.

  • How to honour Shagari, by Afe Babalola

    FOUNDER and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti  (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, SAN is sad over former Second Republic President Shehu Shagari’s death.

    He suggested that the Federal Government should consider naming the Federal University of Technology Akure after the statesman.

    With Shagari’s death, the eminent lawyer said, Nigeria has lost a rare gem and an irreplaceable hero, who stood and fought for the good of the majority.

    Babalola claimed that Shagari was responsible for  the three higher institutions, which now exist in Ondo and Ekiti states.

    Babalola, who spoke in statement yesterday, said: “Our departed former President, who had the rare opportunity of ruling Nigeria during the Second Republic, was indeed a man of honour, dignity and character. He was a very considerate, accessible, objective, selfless and kind man.

    “I had the rare privilege of meeting him when I was a Counsel to the Federal Government in Justices Ayo Irikefe enquiry into an alleged 2.8 billion pounds diverted from the Central Bank of England into a private account in Midland Bank in England.

    “What stands this epitome of decency and integrity out is his vaunting patriotism, open door policy, simplicity, humility and his love for education.

    “The people of old Ondo State, which included the present  Ekiti State,  will forever remain grateful to the departed hero (Shagari), the Second Republic Senate Leader, late Dr. Olusola Saraki and the then Chairman of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the late Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, who accepted my request to hold a rally in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, October 11, 1980, where the Federal Government announced the citing of a Federal University of Technology in Ado-Ekiti to begin academic work in October 1981.

    “This announcement gingered the then Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin-led UPN Government in the then bigger Ondo State to hastily announce the establishment of a university in Ado-Ekiti. The university was to have eight campuses in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Owo and other towns in Ondo State.

    “The political gymnastics that ensued between NPN and UPN led to the transfer of the University of Technology meant for Ado-Ekiti to Akure; and the transfer of the Federal Polytechnic at Akure to Ado-Ekiti.

    “The departed Alhaji Sagari was therefore responsible for the three higher institutions which now exist in Ondo and Ekiti States.  His name will remain indelible in the hearts of the fair minded members of the two states.”

    He added: “By his death, Nigeria has lost a rare gem and an irreplaceable hero who stood and fought for the good of the majority. Our consolation is that he led a good life and above all, he left his indelible footprints on the sands of times. He was undoubtedly a great man, a worthy and an exemplary example of what a leader should be.

    “I commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the entire Shagari family of Sokoto over the death of this thoroughly distinguished citizen, who played his part very well.

    “While wishing him a most-deserved rest, I pray that the Almighty Allah will grant the Shagaris and the people of Nigeria the grace and the equanimity to bear the irreparable loss.

    “His humanitarian services and the many lives he touched while on planet earth will surely stand him in good stead before the Almighty, the Maker of All Things.

    “May I, therefore, humbly suggest that the Federal Government should consider naming the Federal University of Technology Akure after this illustrious son of Nigeria.”

  • Afe Babalola gets Peace Time Hero award

    Last weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) conferred a Peace Time Hero Award on frontline educationist and legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). It also unveiled a bust in his honour, writes Tunde Olofintila.

    It was joyful celebration, deeprooted camaraderie and appre-ciative payback time for the frontline educationist and legal colossus, Aare Afe Babalola, CON, SAN, when the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) unveiled a bust in his honour in the sleepy but heroic town of Okemesi-Ekiti and later decorated him as a ‘Peace Time Hero’ in his homestead, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, last weekend.

    ABBW, which has been celebrating Babalola every December 12 (which people wrongfully call his birthday), is the umbrella body for those who have benefited from his (Babalola’s) philanthropic gestures over the years.

    The celebration train took off from the palace of the Owa Ooye of Okemesi-Ekiti, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, where Babalola, his wife, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, and the leadership of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, were received by Oba Adedeji, the Owa Oye-in-Council and the crème-de-la-crème of Okemesi sons and daughters.

    Oba Adedeji was full of praise and lavish prayers for Babalola for his monumental contributions to Ekiti State in general and Okemesi-Ekiti as a result of which a street was named after him in Okemesi-Ekiti (Afe Babalola Way) when he was given the chieftaincy title of Jagunmolu Atunluse of Okemesi-Ekiti 10 years ago.

    The train thereafter left for the Historic Ekitiparapo War Museum in memory of Legendary Fabunmi Isola Adesoye, the Generalissimo of the Ekiti Parapo War of Liberation and the other fallen Yoruba War Time Heroes during the Kiriji war of 1877 – 1886 where Babalola laid a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.

    ABBW, the brainchild of Chief Solomon Morakinyo Ogunniyi, came into being after Ogunniyi visited Babalola in Ibadan on December 12, 1999. After listening to him, the altruistic philanthropist gave him (Ogunniyi) some seed money to start his publishing business which has been thriving ever since.

    An uncommon and appreciative man, unlike most who have benefited from Babalola, Ogunniyi has since 2013 set aside December 12 yearly to celebrate Babalola for his philanthropy.

    Today, the phenomenon called Afe Babalola has trained over 1,000 lawyers, including 19 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), High Court Judges and Justices of the Appellate Courts as well as Federal and state Attorneys-General. He has also awarded several scholarships and empowered market women, widows, farmers, churches, tertiary institutions, hospitals, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), among several others.

    Certainly, if all of those who have benefited from his large-heartedness have demonstrated the same greatness in gratitude like Ogunniyi, Afe Babalola Gardens where Babalola’s burst was unveiled on December 11, 2018 would have been jam-packed with a warren of people in attendance.

    Notwithstanding, Ogunniyi, a man in the mould of Henry Ford of this world, has lit a lamp that will be very difficult for anyone to extinguish. He has started a revolution that no power can stop but which others should emulate.

    Babalola, who paid glowing tribute to the Peace Time leaders like Prof. Sam Aluko, lawyer Akinyede, Dr. Olokesusi, Ojo Ugbole, Chief E. A. Babalola and the Osuntokun Brothers who made Ekiti the shining example of what a state should be, the “Land of Honour’’, the “Fountain of Knowledge” however took a swipe at how Ekiti State, to which he has contributed so much, has suddenly become what he described as “the notorious World’s Poverty Headquarters”.

    His words: “Regretfully that was not the dream of the founding fathers of Ekiti State. As a matter of fact, that was not what I grew up to know. Between 1959 and 1967, when I was a young man, the Ekitis were a contended, industrious and God-fearing people. Crimes were few and far between. There were no super rich people, but nobody was begging for food or money. There was no unemployment. Nobody was sleeping on the streets. There was respect for elders/seniors.”

    He added: “Those who sent their children/wards to school were proud to feed them and paid their school fees. It was not the responsibility of governments to feed those children in those days because parents of those days did not just give birth to children and donated them to government to feed for them. But today, it would appear all those have gone with the winds.”

    Babalola believes that the present caustic narrative of the orgy of violence, spiral unemployment and grinding poverty as well as wanton criminality ravaging the society will be redressed if the warped Nigerian constitution with its attendant over-concentration of power at the centre which renders the states and the local governments totally impotent unlike what obtained under the Parliamentary Constitutions of 1960 and 1963 is frontally addressed and forthwith too.

    Babalola lamented with a twinge: “I say with emphasis that the only change that can change the country for the better and pave way for the enhancement of one Nigeria is the change that changes the structure of Nigeria. It is that change that will make politics less attractive, make each state to develop at its own pace and do away with all shades and shapes of criminality.”

    He added: “It is restructuring that would enable the component parts of the country to develop their resources, provide employment, eradicate poverty and make individuals to become true Nigerians. It is restructuring that would enable each state to control its population, set internationally acceptable standard for admission to tertiary institutions and bring back the glory of quality education from our universities.

    “Above all, it is restructuring that would curb overconcentration of power in the centre and reduce corruption, promote harmony and unity and make the country metamorphose into a nation”.

    At the grand finale in Afe Babalola University on December 12, 2018 where Babalola was decorated as a ‘Peace Time Hero’, chairman of the occasion, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, equally eulogised Babalola for his significant and continued  contributions to the development of the country.

    Starting from Law, Babalola’s primary constituency, to education where his nine-year old university, which has been acknowledged by the NUC as “the pride of university system in Nigeria” dubbed by the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) as “the most successful private university in Nigeria” and endorsed by UNESCO as “a world-class institution of Higher Education” and philanthropy where Babalola has given to many worthy courses, Ooni said Babalola is nothing but a global citizen that deserves to be celebrated globally.

    For this, the frontline Royal Father volunteered to be the Arrow Head of next year’s Afe Babalola Day. This is particularly heart-warming in a clime where heroes are hardly celebrated when they are still alive and kicking on planet earth, forgetting that when heroes are not celebrated, new ones may not come into being.

     

    • Olofintila wrote from Ado-Ekiti

  • Beneficiaries immortalise Afe Babalola with statue

    •Monarchs, others hail ABUAD founder’s philanthropy

    Legal luminary and renowned philanthropist, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has received a lifetime honour from people who have benefited from his milk of human kindness.

    Acting under the aegis of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide, they erected a befitting statue in his honour at Agbonna Tourist Centre in Okemesi Ekiti on Tuesday to keep his memory alive in the Hearst of the people.

    The President General of Aare Afebabalola Beneficiaries Worldwide, Oba Justice Ademola Ajakaye, the Oluyin of Iyin urged Nigerians to draw strength from the legacies and exemplary life of the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

    Babalola spoke yesterday at Okemesi Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area at the unveiling of a sculpture and garden built in his honour by his beneficiaries worldwide.

    He said: “I want to emphasise that the only change that can change the country for better and pave way for the evolution of the nation is the change that changes the structure of Nigeria.

    “It is the duty of government to provide road, electricity, airport, rail line and other infrastructure. Unfortunately, all these are not there, resulting in spiral unemployment, destitution and criminality.”

    The legal luminary noted that restructuring remained the change that would make politics less attractive, make each state develop and thrive at its own pace.

    He said: “And it is the change that will make every component of Nigeria to develop its resources, provide employment, eradicate poverty and make individuals to become true Nigerians.

    “It is restructuring that will curb overconcentration of power at the centre and reduce corruption, promote harmony and unity.”

    Laying the wreathe at the Ekiti Parapo Heroes Museum at Ita Balogun in Okemesi in honour of fallen heroes, Babalola saluted the bravery of the war commanders who prosecuted the Kiriji War between 1877 and 1886.

    The eminent lawyer said their efforts were instrumental to the liberation of Ekiti from Ajeles from Ibadan.

    He said: “It is shameful that these heroes, who fought for the unity and amalgamation of Ekiti, were not being celebrated. The tourism potentials in this town alone, I mean those relics we gathered from the warfront, can turn the economy of this state around.

    “Today, the only thriving industry in Ekiti in particular is politics, while other sectors are neglected. The government must invest in this sector and turn around the moribund economy of our dear state in line with the dream of the founding fathers of the state.”

    The Oowa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Adedeji Gbadebo; the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and the initiator of the project, Chief Morakinyo Ogunniyi, lauded the Babalola’s giant strides and contributions to the state’s development.

     

     

     

  • President greets Oba of Lagos, Afe Babalola on birthdays

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday felicitated with Oba of Lagos Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu on his 75th birthday, saying the government remains proud of his contributions to Nigeria’s growth.

    Buhari also joined the  Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and National Judicial Council (NJC) in celebrating one of the country’s brightest and resourceful lawyers, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), on his 87th birthday.

    In a telephone conversation, the President hailed Akiolu’s courage and unwavering commitment to the country’s unity and peace.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President  noted that the monarch always speaks the truth to people in power.

    The President told the Oba of Lagos, who served 32 years as a Police officer, rising to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) before ascending his fathers’ throne, that his wisdom in tackling issues and encouraging civic responsibility in his domain has brought pride to the country.

    He prayed that God would grant Oba Akiolu longer life and more wisdom to keep serving his people and the nation.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, sent warm felicitations to family, friends, close associates and professional colleagues of Chief Babalola, whose indelible imprint on the legal profession and academia remains legendary.

    The President believed the legal luminary is an inspiration to both the young and old on the power of dreaming big and the audacity of following through, having started out as a Grade 11 teacher, who by hard work, discipline and self-motivation propelled himself to great heights of success, including establishment of a private university .

    As the legal luminary marks his 87th birthday, the President affirmed that his wealth of knowledge and wisdom have been rightfully deployed in service of God, his country  and humanity, while hailing his large-heartedness and love for the poor and vulnerable.

    Buhari prayed for more of God’s abundant grace upon Chief Babalola for longer life, good health and strength to further serve the country and humanity.

  • Nigeria can overcome poverty with agriculture, says Afe Babalola

    The Founder/Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) in Ekiti State, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has urged governments at all levels to invest more in agriculture to create jobs.

    Babalola said Nigeria can overcome poverty, hunger and unemployment, if governments invest in agriculture, which he said holds a better promise than white collar jobs.

    He warned that Nigeria could be listed as a beggarly nation, if government policies are not favourable to the Agricultural sector.

    The eminent lawyer spoke at the weekend at the grand finale of this year’s Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABA-EX) on ABUAD campus in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    Babalola noted that Nigeria is bedevilled by “grinding poverty, spiralling unemployment and insecurity” because of the abandonment of agriculture.

    A farmer in Emure-Ekiti, Mr. Clement Ogunsakin, got a cash prize of N1 million from Babalola as this year’s Ekiti State’s Best Farmer.

    Forty-seven other farmers in the 16 local government areas got N5 million cash prizes to be invested in their agribusinesses.

    Other farmers, who benefited from ABA-EX cash largesse last year presented their farm produce to the ABUAD Founder in appreciation of his gesture to them.

    The eminent lawyer said he was disturbed by the rate youths embrace commercial motorcycling instead of farming.

    He said: “The unwholesome situation has suddenly and sadly made Ekiti State the headquarters of Okada riders.”

    Babalola suggested that agriculture be made attractive to youths so that the sector would give them fulfilment.

    According to him, organising the exhibition every year is his contribution to identify with farmers.

    He said: “It is imperative that we revive agriculture to ensure that Nigeria regains its lost glory in that all-import realm and in the overall interest of the people. Any nation that pays little or no attention to agriculture does so as its own peril and risks becoming a beggarly nation.

    “I am, therefore, appealing to those in white collar jobs to have gardens at the back of their homes while government should encourage small, medium and large scale farming for different categories of people.

    “As part of its community service, ABUAD and its founder, as stakeholders, in 2014, embarked on this crusade to renew people’s interest in agriculture with the overall aim of reviving it.”

    Babalola urged the Ekiti State government to establish agriculture offices in the 16 local government areas so that farmers can get inputs at subsidised rates, particularly modern farm implements.

    The eminent lawyer said farming with cutlasses and hoes will dissuade youths from embracing the occupation.

    The Chairman of ABA-EX 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, urged the state government to partner Babalola to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy.

    Durotoye said the exhibition also gave farmers the opportunities to get credit facilities from financial institutions, like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BoI) and Bank of Agriculture (BoA), whose representatives attended the event.

    The Permanent Secretary in Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Dare Abegunde said the Agriculture sector is key to the actualisation of the Vision 2020 proposition of the Federal Government.

    Abegunde said: “The Federal Government’s intention is to make Nigeria joins the comity of 20 most developed nations across the globe. This can’t happen without technology value chain in agriculture, which requires production, processing and marketing of agriculture products.”

  • Afe Babalola empowers 48 farmers with N5.6m

    FORTY-eight farmers in Ekiti State will get cash totaling N5.6 million as rewards at 2018 Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABA-EX), which kicked off yesterday.

    The overall best farmer at the agriculture exhibition sponsored by Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, will smile home with N1 million.

    Giving a breakdown of the aid, Babalola stated that best farmers from 15 other local government areas will get 150,000 each.

    Second best farmers in the 16 local government areas will receive N100,000 and third best farmers in all the 16 local government areas will receive N50,000 each.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the expo yesterday, Babalola, who was represented by ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, said the gesture was aimed at boosting food security and production in the state.

    Babalola said he decided to support farming based on his belief that agriculture remains the best weapon Ekiti could deploy to banish poverty and hunger among the populace.

    The legal luminary challenged the Federal Government to allocate more funds to farming to attract youths into agriculture and help in curtailing the level of poverty and hunger in the country.

    He urged would-be winners to make use of the cash rewards to plough them back into their agribusiness and boost their yields.

    Babalola said: “In the last three editions, only 16 farmers were given financial rewards and supports. This year, 48 will benefit.”

    The Chairman, ABA-EX Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prof. Adeolu Durotoye, said Babalola’s gesture was a challenge to federal and state governments to invest more in agriculture to create jobs and fight hunger.

    Durotoye, who is the provost, ABUAD College of Social and Management Sciences, urged Ekiti State government to provide counterpart funding for the programme to encourage more people to embrace farming.

    He said the ABAEX scheme would provide veritable platform for farmers to have access to funds and also expose them to modern techniques and opportunities for credit facilities.

    Durotoye said: “This is because stakeholders like the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Central Bank of Nigeria have been invited to interact with the farmers and expose them to several loan facilities they could access as farmers.

    “While the 2017 edition was on Rice Summit, this year we are having Moringa Summit. We conducted evaluation and assessment of 187 farms across the 16 local governments to know those who were actually qualified for the cash rewards; this is based on dedication and commitment to farming.

    “It is our pleasure to announce that those who benefited in 2017 have ventured into new areas of agribusiness, while some have expanded their existing farmlands courtesy of the financial supports from Chief Afe Babalola.”

  • Afe Babalola rewards ABUAD athletes with N1.5 m

    IT was celebration galore at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) on Monday as the Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, rewarded the 75-man contingent to the 13th Nigerian Universities Staff Sports Association (NUSSA) Games with N1,500,000 for topping the medals’ table.

    It was the university’s first time at the Games hosted by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).   The team won nine gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals – 26 in all.

    Receiving the 14-carat Gold-plated trophy from the team at a reception in company of his wife, Yeye Aare Modupe, Babalola thanked the athletes for doing the university proud with their superlative performance which follows recent academic achievements by the institution.

    He said: “I was very impressed when the Vice Chancellor came to tell me that we emerged the overall winner at the Ilorin Games despite the fact that that was our first appearance at the tournament. That has gone a long way to confirm the stuff we are made of.

    “The world has been celebrating our excellence in Academics. NUC said our Law College is the Best in West Africa. The Nigerian Society of Engineers dubbed our engineering programme the template for engineering education in Nigeria and we have just performed the feat of being the first university in the country to produce its pioneer 43 medical doctors within six-and-half years of the commencement of its MBBS programme, scoring 100 per cent and with eight Distinctions, the equivalent of First Class Degrees in other disciplines.

    “For your superlative performance at Ilorin, you have added to the streak of ‘Firsts’ recorded by the university for which we thank and celebrate you. As a full demonstration of that, the Bursary Department is here to give all Medalists Cash Awards totaling N1.5 million and a sumptuous lunch for you all in appreciation of your excellent performance”.

    Sixty-three  federal state and private universities participated in the Games which featured 16 sports.

    One of the most significant win for ABUAD was its gold in football.  The ABUAD Team defeated the University Ibadan Team to emerge the overall winner of the tourney.

    In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, the first professor of Sports Science in Africa, thanked Babalola for providing the resources and the enabling environment for both staff and students to excel at national competitions.

    He said ABUAD students also came second in the 6th edition of the Nigeria Private Universities Games (NPUGA) in December 2015 when the institution was just five years old.

    Ajisafe attributed the university’s success in sports to its modern sporting facilities including nine courts, a 1,000-capacity pavilion, Olympic size Swimming Pool, football pitch, and a Talent Discovery Centre which houses 28 different Games.

    Lead Coach, Mr. Toba Bamitale, thanked Babalola and the university management for believing in the workers and supporting them in all ways possible.  He promised that the university would do better in the next edition of the Games.