The conferment of the 3^rd Founder’s Merit Awards Celebration to deserving students and member of staff for 2012/2013 took place at the Multi-purpose Hall of the University on 28^th March, 2013.

At the event, two hundred and seventy four individuals, including students and staff were offered merit awards ranging from Academic Excellence and character with CGPA 5.0 and 4.5 – 4.9, award for student using the cleanest room and toilet, merit award for Academic and non-Academic Staff and the best venture staff of the year.

The students that bagged 5.0 CGPA award in academic performance were: Orji Ernestina Chinwe (Anambra); Azom Esther Adaobi(Anambra); Otu Chichetaram Ruth(Enugu); Adefolalu Boluwatife Aderemi; Ojelabi Modupe Victoria both from Ekiti; Igbokwe Chisome Elsie(Imo); Apata Modupe Victoria(kogi); Afolabi Oluwateniola Ajoke(Ondo); Ikegwuru Chioma(River) all in College of Medicine, Ogunbusola Oluwatosin(Ekiti) from Economics Department and Akinseye Ayo Clinton(Ondo) of Petroleum Engineering. They were all rewarded with Scholarship Awards of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) each.

The other categories of the awards were for the non-academic staff, and these ranged from 50,000 to 100,000naira, those indigent students with satisfactory proof of inability to continue their university education in ABUAD were given four hundred thousand naira (400,000) each.

In her introductory remark, the Registrar of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Lady Christie Oluborode accorded the special guest of honour, Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, the former Director General of NAFDAC and a two term Minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria with warm reception on her arrival in ABUAD. She lauded Aare Afe Babalola virtues of honesty, transparency, integrity, discipline and kindness. She also said it’s gratifying to show honour and appreciation to people whom God has used to impact and contribute immensely to the development of this country. In this respect, the Registrar applauded Prof. Dora Akunyili for her selfless service to humanity.

The Registrar also recognized the presence of the wife of the Founder, Yeye Modupe Babalola, Vice Chancellor (ABUAD) – Prof. Sidi Osho, Principal Officers, Provosts of Colleges, Staff and parents at the event.

On behalf of the entire ABUAD community, Prof. Sidi Osho – Vice Chancellor (ABUAD), acknowledged the amiable, master planner, dynamic, purposeful, hardworking and a genuine lover of education, the Founder/President Emeritus, Aare Afe Babalola, his wife, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, and other special guests present at the occasion.

She stated that, the Founder’s 3^rd merit awards dinner was special in term of the series of dinners organized by the Founder to bring together the ABUAD family in a more relaxed environment, and to reward excellence in academics performance and character building. She noted that the first convocation of the University will hold before the end of this year.

The Vice Chancellor described the importance of the Founder’s merit awards as a way to encourage and challenge students and staff, not to rest on their oars, but rather to strive harder in order to achieve the vision of the Founder. In view of this, a total of 28.5million naira was given to the awardees comprising both students and staff.

Prof Dora Akunyili, as the special guest of honour, was amazed by the glamour of the event, exclaiming in the following words:

Whaoooo…….., beautiful environment and lovely people. As I came to this place, I just remembered what I saw in South Korea in 2003, it was a hall that was beautiful like this and kept asking my self if we are still going to have this kind of a place in my country and in my life time. But I have been grateful to God and almost emotional about it that I am part of this beautiful dinner with a great experience in a developing country.

In her speech, she thanked Aare Afe Babalola for the great work he has done and she prayed that people’s prayer and the prayers of the saints will always be with him in this world and hereafter.

She also acknowledged Aare for his numerous contributions to humanity in all fields, his untiring efforts to make ABUAD a University to be reckoned with both in Nigeria and Africa at large.

She also thanked the wife of the Founder, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, for her support in many respects, including the development of ABUAD. She further acknowledged the outstanding work of the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Sidi Osho whom she regarded as the best person for the job.

She submitted that, Nigerian Universities are experiencing decay in the educational sector, noting that, in ABUAD, students are by contrast on high level educational standard with first class environment and unique facilities. She could hardly believe that a university could have everything needed by students without stress. From what she had seen so far, as made ABUAD a world class University. And given the perception of the NUC about the institution as the fastest growing University in Africa, Model, Benchmark and Reference Point for other Universities, and also as the 2^nd best private University in Nigeria, 16^th position out of 157 Universities in Nigeria, the uniqueness of ABUAD in terms of structures and facilities is justified.

On the issue of 3^rd Founder’s merit awards, Professor Akunyili said she was so impressed and thankful to the management for being fair in the selection of the awardees which was based on academic excellence and character amongst the students and staff. She noted that, the award would serve as means of encouragement, motivation and challenge to both students and staff.

Aare Afe Babalola himself, acknowledged the efforts of Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili and her contributions while serving under Obasanjo’s regime. He also acknowledged the efforts of the royal fathers, the distinguished guest and parents that were present at the occasion.

He disclosed that scholarship being given to students has increased from the previous figure of 15million naira to 28.5million naira. And that, in actualizing the vision and mission of the University, he would make ABUAD one of the best Universities in Nigeria in the next 2years; and, one of the best five hundred Universities in the world in the next five years.

As part of the event to commemorate the Founder’s merit awards celebration, trophies were presented to the winners of the various sporting events. There were donors from the rank of the principal officers at ABUAD, including the Founder himself as well as his wife. The donors of the various trophies and events are as follows;

An Awardee, Gideon Kelechi from College of Law, responded on behalf of other award recipients, expressing appreciation to the Founder for his kind gesture. He prayed to God to grant Aare long life and good health. He noted that, Aare is a Man of all seasons. He concluded by expressing his appreciation for coming to ABUAD.

Present at the well-attended dinner were many traditional rulers including the Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Ewi-in-Council, Prof. Dora Akuyili, Rep. of Ekiti State Governor – Dr. Eniola Ajayi, Rep. of Imo State Governor – Sen. Izunaso, Adenipekun (SAN), Pioneer Speaker of Ekiti State – Hon. Kola Adefemi, Special guests from Emmanuel Chamber, Parents and Students from many institutions of higher learning.

The closing remark was made by the Director of Board of Trustees, Prof Isreal Orubuloye who acknowledged the efforts of all the distinguished guests, parents and well wishers that attended the occasion. He also thanked the Founder for his passion and admiration for education.