In a remarkable gesture of appreciation, a group of Ekiti indigenes residing in the United States has honored the esteemed founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and elder statesman, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, with an award recognizing his exceptional contributions to the state. The award, presented under the auspices of the Ekiti Kete Coalition, USA, is tagged ‘Outstanding Achiever of All Time’ and highlights Babalola’s significant impact on the creation and development of Ekiti State.
The coalition also recognized the Senate Leader and Senator representing the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, with the ‘Outstanding Political Icon’ award. This dual recognition underscores the collective efforts of both individuals in advancing the interests of the Ekiti community.
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The President of the coalition, Hon. Joe Olugbamila, presented the award to Aare Babalola over the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, alongside other executives of the group. He emphasized the importance of celebrating the nonagenarian while he is still alive, stating, “We need to celebrate our revered legal icon while he is alive because he deserves all the recognition we can give him for his tireless efforts towards the development of our state and the country.”
Olugbamila highlighted the diaspora’s recognition of Babalola’s profound impact in the fields of education, health, and law, as well as his unmatched philanthropic contributions toward the development of the state. He commended the Ado-Ekiti community for designating October 18 as Afe Babalola Day, which he believes will further facilitate appreciation for the elder statesman’s efforts both locally and nationally, ensuring future generations acknowledge his legacy.
However, Olugbamila expressed disappointment over the recent rejection of a bill by the State House of Assembly that sought to formally declare Afe Babalola Day in Ekiti State. He called upon the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and other stakeholders to revisit this legislative proposal in the future.
He remarked, “Baba Afe is an impact advocate and a leading legal light, and we have seen what he is doing with the iconic ABUAD, multi-system hospital, and the industrial park, to mention a few. They are all first-class facilities. We came from the USA to celebrate him, to encourage others in society, and to change our mindset towards development.”
In his response, Aare Afe Babalola expressed gratitude to the group for recognizing his contributions from afar and for being the first to propose a day of celebration in his honor. He reiterated his commitment to contributing to the betterment of society, urging people to show more love and support for one another.
Babalola remarked, “There is no country as blessed and endowed as Nigeria. We must imbibe the spirit of hard work, determination, and resolution in achieving greatness.” He emphasized the founding vision of ABUAD, which is to produce graduates capable of changing the narrative about the country, highlighting the necessity for citizens to adopt a positive mindset for national progress.
This celebration not only honors Aare Afe Babalola but also serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility of the Ekiti community—both at home and in the diaspora—to work towards the development and advancement of their state and country.
