The erudite Nigerian Lawyer, Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti; Aare Afe Babalola OFR, CON, LLD, SAN ,FNIALS, FCIArb and recipient of several other Awards, Garlands, Chieftaincies and Accolades including Queen Victoria Commemorative Medal Award, Oxford UK, 2007 shall again at Barbican Centre in London be conferred the LL.D Degree Honoris Causa of the prestigious University of London in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and numerous humanitarian programs on Education.
Camera Laye’s L’Enfant Noir once paraphrased; – “The song of the harvesters transforms the atmosphere of work into an organized ritual ceremony marking the end of one season and the beginning of another.” The 11th of March, 2015 begins another season of harvest of Awards for the self-made Babalola, indeed the proposed academic ceremony, unique in the 179 years history of the University of London as the recipient will be the first African to be conferred with LL.D degree of the University. Reacting to the letter of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adrian Smith of the London University expressing the interest of the university to confer Doctorate degree, the elated Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose law practice span over fifty two years said ;”He believes that the award was in large measures due to the unprecedented and monumental educational landmarks achieved by his five years old University”.
The glitz and razzmatazz of the event will feature, according to Tunde Olofintila “The crème-de-la-crème of the society made up of members of the Bar and Bench, legal academics, royalty, clergy and captains of industry, as well as members of the diplomatic community, to celebrate the international legal icon and philanthropist, who has been chosen for the award on account of impacting on other people’s lives through his numerous humanitarian programmes.”
There is an imprint of the invisible creator in the affairs of the Octogenarian Chief Emmanuel Afe Babalola. At every opportunity I decipher his wit, grace and candour and particularly his unerring grit that encouraged the best impulse of all. His faith in Christ, wisdom of age, courage of hope, blend of fantasy, and nobility of spirit has made him One man special Olympics towering above his contemporary elders statesmen and to the unique affection kindled in the heart of millions admirers across the globe. Spit- and -polish product of the old Emmanuel School Ado-Ekiti, neither smokes nor involve in hard drinks as he continually keeps his 5 ft. plus frame, trim at about 70kg. Indeed he is bewitchingly strong, healthy with zero tolerance to indiscipline.
Law remains the source of Afe Babalola’s fame; the reason largely for his alienation by some political class. He is a man of complex locution tainted with the philosophy of the late American President J.F Kennedy on Nigerian politics; “men who create power make an indispensable contribution of the Nation’s greatness but those men who question power make contributions just as indispensable, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us”. Babalola believes that unless those who govern the nation are imbued with the spirit of service and honesty of purpose, there could be little hope of surmounting the difficulties of this nation. Hence, his democratic rhetoric was not a mere verbiage aimed as an outer façade for deep seated partisanship as once described in certain quarters.
Besides his legal forays, the density and immensity of his vision for the fastest growing private University in Africa; Afe Babalola University is perhaps the major thing that trade – marks him beyond silk and gown. His rich experience as the best Pro-chancellor of Nigerian Universities in 2003 - 2007 and thereafter the Chairman committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Universities 2005 to 2007 brought to bear with ruthless efficiency in the management of his new University. Professor M.L Goodheer of the European Business Assembly found Afe Babalola University as ‘a model which have not been seen anywhere”. True to this the University was established in 2008 at a pristine forest in Ado-Ekiti and today ranks as a world class Educational Centre of Excellence with a philosophy to lead by example.
Prof. Adrian Smith obtained exoneration from the fell swoop indictment that “could anything good come out of Nazareth?. Ostensibly, it is an unsavory propensity of human to often brush off accomplishments. The University of London confers honorary degrees on individuals irrespective of race and color, those that had met some identified requirements of being persons of conspicuous merits and outstanding in their fields, command international recognitions by given exceptional services to their communities and those that have made important contributions to the London University. Indeed Babalola met those prerequisites and has brought honors’ to Africa.
Tanto Nomini Nullum Par Elogium; of this great man, no praise is adequate. Nigerians at home and abroad amplified the thunderous encomium been deservedly showered on Chief Afe Babalola and proudly enthused that he is a visionary Nigerian, un-spoilt with pelf of slivery heritage but taught to toil in a world disillusioned with hazy views from slippery stage. He transforms the sands of time , firmly stand and stir while he plan far and near. He is a champion of the cause of Ekiti people and has never relented in that direction, in fact he becomes a rallying point and an enviable reference for the past three decades. He actually facilitated the establishment of the Federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti in 1981 and worked tirelessly for the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.
Chief Afe Babalola was an alumnus and a beneficiary of the opportunity offered by the University of London as external candidate. He obtained Bachelors degree of the University in Economics in September 1959 and the inter-LL.B in 1960 through private studies. Indeed he is today a maker of history and worthy ambassador of this institution and I say floreat collegiums.
Considering his brilliance and unprecedented achievements in the Bar the Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR once found him in his letter dated June 17, 2008. He wrote; “indeed the legendary battles you had fought in the court room have led to the creation of many Judicial Precedents and landmark decisions, in addition, you are greatly admired and respected for your strong, compassionate spirit and philanthropist activities in this nation. Babalola is unprecedentedly the 1st African to receive the honorary LL.D degree of London University, although in humanities were the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, honored with doctorate degree in Economics in 1996, and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu who was also conferred with honorary degree in Divinity on 2nd Dec. 2008.Others among the list of famous honoris of the university were the celebrated statesman, war hero, distinguished Author and politician; Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill as well as the famous poets and writers, T.S Elliot and Henry Moore.
With his long years of reputation and allurement in all spheres of life, Aare still persistently work hard, as a farmer he has the largest tree crop holdings in Nigeria, he keep straight, believing that when wealth is lost nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost, and when character is lost all is lost. He probably took his strength from one of the planks of Ecclesiastes 9 verse 5 “for the living knows they shall die, but the dead knows not anything neither have they anymore a reward”. Age is a matter of mind to Chief as he does not mind, it doesn’t matter. His door is always ajar to all and sundry for good and ill requests and no matter the ingenuity, such attention would attract a take home stipend. While extended family became extended to infinity as it is almost impossible to differentiate between the biological members and those who suddenly became one. Indeed Aare has achieved a Tripos tripus as a man of erudition indisputably. He is a committed patriot with testimony of eternal essence of a good character and criteria of an eventful existence. Congratulations to a frontline legal icon, intellectual avatar and educationist for yet another harvest of honours.
Watch the graduation video
- Ayo Fajana and Pius Ibitoye
