Afe Babalola

AARE AFE BABALOLA: A LIVING LEGEND
By
Seye Adetunmbi, 21/10/2017

In every generation, God has a way of blessing mankind with a few akoni-eda (exceptional colossus individuals) whose ways and accomplishments would be confounding to their fellow countrymen. Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) is one of such rare distinguished few in Nigeria. He is an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). Aare was the former pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Onetime chairman of the committee of pro-chancellors of Nigerian universities. Winner of the best pro-chancellor award in 2005 and 2006 and winner of Queen Victoria commemorative award at Socrates award of European business assembly in Oxford, UK; member of the Rector of Europe, October 2007; vice president, Rector of Europe 2010; and honorary professor of an international university. His over $2b investment in education has resulted to over 6,727+ beneficiaries and to his credit are large quantities of crops and animal production of different species in his integrated mechanized farm. 

Aare Afe Babalola B.Sc (Econs) Lond; LL.B (Hons) Lond; FFPA, FNIALS, FCIArb, LL.D; Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Doctor of Letters (LL.D)

In September 2017, he bagged the latest award of a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa), in appreciation of his “service to the nation and significant contributions to human development” from Nigeria Defence Academy University, Kaduna during their 28th Convocation ceremony. Earlier honorary awards include Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, 2000; Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) (D.Litt) Kogi State University, 2012; Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) University of Lagos, February 2013; Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) University of Jos, March 2013 and Doctor of Management (honoris causa), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), 2014 as well as Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) University of London.

He has handled over 10,600 court cases as a solicitor and general advocate, many of which were landmark cases some of which could have scared away the cowardly. He is also an honorary alumnus of Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti. The exemplary Ekiti man brought honour to Nigeria when he bagged Doctor of Law from the University of London. The award made him to belong to the elite class of honorary recipients of the degree of the University of London, having been preceded by only two Africans in the history of the University, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The award from London has made Chief Afe Babalola a living legend. This distinguished status and outstanding recognition has been described by the emeritus  Prof Michael Omolewa as “a symbol of victory over all forces that hinder growth, a real demonstration of the point that one can make it to the very top by perseverance, and without the initial advantage of rich parents, powerful contact and connections, and even against all odds, the limitation of wealth and the disadvantage of place of birth or ethnic origins. The award also offers the recognition for the investment in neighbours and the wider society of kindness, sensitivity, and passion for the pursuit of excellence.”

    Aare Afe Babalola who is a giant today had a very humble beginning, his life story of success will remain an inspiration for indigent students and struggling Africans that where there is a will there is way, God being one's helper. He started off as a teacher enrolled for the Senior Cambridge School Certificate examination by private study with the help of tuition courses which he ordered from the Wolsey Hall, Oxford.  

He  left Ado-Ekiti for Ibadan on January 5th 1948 with determination not to return to his hometown until he had obtained a university degree. After passing the Senior Cambridge School Certificate examination, he obtained B. Sc degree in Economics through private study. His determination through private study later earned him degree in Law from the University of London as an external candidate. Subsequent to traveling for the mandatory stay at an Inn in England, he returned to Ibadan to establish his legal practice, Emmanuel Chambers. His diligence and dedication to law profession earned him Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and his law firm has trained over a thousand eminent lawyers more than twelve of whom became SANs and four of whom became Attorney Generals and Ministers of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 

Baba Afe remains the hugest private investor in Ekiti and will unequivocally for some time remain the highest tax payer in the state of Nigeria. What an amazing character and an uncommon personality! A man who had his formal education terminated at the primary education level and went ahead to acquire the secondary school certificate, and later the bachelor of science education in Economics and the Law degrees as a private student. The man never studied at any university yet God had used him to establish one of the best private universities in Africa. With the establishment of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), which continues to grow by the day as the pride of Africa, the founder has joined the league of very few people with rare grace of turning a virgin forest to a city. Aare Afe Babalola, odundun asodero igirabtalokun, o so aginju d'ulu

A prominent member of Ekitipanupo Forum and an unequaled pillar of support for the preeminent Ekiti indigenous intellectual roundtable. ABUAD hosted 10th anniversary celebration and 2nd public lecture of the forum in 2015. It was indeed a rare honour for Ekitipanupo Forum to appreciate the distinguished Ekiti man who holds 2015 Ekitipanupo Timeless Merit Award and made him the chairman of the first Ekitipanupo colloquium held in 2016.



The commissioning of the ultra modern 400-bed ABUAD Teaching Hospital on October 20th 2017 has put Ekiti-State on the world map as a medical care tourism destination to the glory of God.
Ajinde ara a ma je fun Baba l'oruko Jesu, amin.

J.O.O. Ojo

CHIEF JOSEPH OLADAYO ONI OJO (1917-1975)

THE QUINTESSENTIAL IFAKI MAN OF HONOUR

By

Seye Adetunmbi

Contemporarily, very few elites and early educated men made impact outside their place of birth and yet left so much to be adored in their locality, their place of birth. One of such great men was Chief Joseph Oladayo Ojo. He was born in 1917 into the family of Chief Ojo Abudu in Ifaki. His father among the three people that were instrumental to how Methodist Church got to Ifaki. His mother, Chief Mrs Abigail Ojo was the Iya-Ijo of Methodist Church, Ilogbe Quarter in Ifaki-Ekiti.

    He was a product of Wesley College, Ibadan the famous teacher training institution in Nigeria which he attended in 1936 to 1940. He held double B.A. degree from University of London, and Fourah Bay College of Durham University, Sierra-Leone as an external candidate and MA (English) London. Also bagged Master of Arts (MA) from University of London. Chief Ojo was a devout Christian, a great supporter, promoter and beneficiary of Methodism in Nigeria. He was one of the earliest University graduates in Ifaki; he was noted as the first degree holder. At a stage he was considered the most highly placed number one indigene in Ifaki community.

    Chief J.O.O. Ojo a.k.a. “Ojo Abudu” assumed the mantle of leadership in his community naturally, by virtue of his unequaled influence among his peers and his sincere love for Ifaki community. His Royal Majesty Oba Olayisade conferred him with the honorary title of Eletolua during the official commissioning of Ifaki Grammar School in 1958, the year the first set of the school moved to its permanent site. That very day the song composed by Chief D.O. Adetunmbi 'Ohun rere ha ĺe jade lati Nasareti wa?'  was rendered by the students.

   He was the first old student to be the Principal of the famous Wesley College, Ibadan. He administered the school for over a decade. It is also on record as the first African/Nigerian principal of the College. Many Ifaki Methodist sons were trained at the Wesley College during his tenure as Headmaster. Both the privileged and the underprivileged benefited from his benevolence. He was instrumental to most of the social developmental moves in the community through out his lifetime.

   The establishment of Ifaki Grammar School though a community school project was greatly supported by the Methodist Mission through his unparalleled contacts. At his prime, he was like the foreman and source of inspiration for the progressive elites in the community because of his unalloyed desire for rapid development and growth of Ifaki. The great lover of cultural activities and an amiable character was highly respected and loved by his people.

  In 1967, he was appointed the Education Secretary to the old Western State Government in Nigeria. He was also one-time Executive Secretary of an education project in the College of Education at University of Lagos.

    His wife, Chief Mrs Ojo was honored with chieftaincy title along with Chief D. O. Adetunmbi and Chief Mercy Fayemi in 1974 by His Royal Majesty Oba Josiah Ojo Akanle II, the Olufaki of Ifaki of blessed memory.

    As a little boy I looked at him with reverence each time he visited Ifaki whenever I saw him. My father’s association with Chief Ojo could be described as strictly official, regarding the community assignments. He was the one who signed the letter on behalf of Ifaki community requesting Chief Adetunmbi to leave Ekitiparapo College, Ido-Ekiti to join hands with Chief J. O. Adeoya to start Ifaki Grammar School in 1957. The subsequent few encounters they might have had were actuated by their common interest to see to the progress of Ifaki community.

Chief Ojo signed the marriage register of Prof & Mrs Babatunde Adelusi on January 30, 1966

    Although he was not resident in Ifaki yet the presence of Chief Ojo was felt, while other elites resident in Ifaki were committed to follow up and monitor all the progressive efforts initiated by the Ifaki Progressive Union and applicable quarters in the community. However, necessary consultations were made with Chief Ojo to facilitate the realisation of communal projects. His death was too sudden for his people to bear. He was their pride, and the hope of the community at the time he passed-on. They looked up to him individually and communally.

Caucusian Rev J Jones, Rev Babatope, Chief Ojo, Oba Ojo, Omotunde; J Ogunmoroti, D.A Famoroti, SB, JO Adeoya, Rev Ale Chief M.A. Fakuade

Chief Ojo was called to the great beyond on the 19th of March 1975 at the age of 58 years; he was survived by his wife and children.

Adeyinka Adebayo

MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT ADEYINKA ADEBAYO (1928-2017): A SALUTE

By

Seye Adetunmbi, 9/3/17

I still recall joining other primary school pupils to line up the street in the late 1960s and early 1970s to wave at the Military Governors either visiting or passing through Ifaki-Ekiti. For me it was an opportunity to catch a glimpse "LIVE", the very important personality that one had heard older ones discussed or talked about, the military governor I have seen his pictures in the newspaper or heard his voice on the radio. Ifaki being a nodal town, may not be in the schedule of the august visitor yet often fell within the route, the school authorities would arrange for students to be on standby which involved a long wait in those days. My last experience in this regard was during the tenure of Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi.

All my desire to catch a glimpse of Baba General Adebayo in the late 1960s did not materialise. One of such was when Bishop Osanyin was buried at Ado Emmanuel Cathedral Church, it was my older sister who went with my parents. An opportunity came during the commissioning of the National High School, Aye-Ekiti in early 1970s a special school for the displaced children of military officers after the civil war. By the time the news of his arrival got to Ifaki, the man had departed with the chopper that brought him. The closest one was when he actually visited Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki-Ekiti for the commissioning of science laboratories in 1968, see the picture in the accompanying set to this tribute. It was during school hours, I couldn't see him like most people except the students and workers of the girls' school. Thank God for Ekiti Anglican Diocesan Synod sessions. Thereafter his retirement from the army, the annual synods afforded me the opportunity to see Baba General for real, the few times he attended the opening sessions, whenever I went in company with my very beloved venerable father in the late 1970s/1980s during the tenure of Bishop Adetiloye.


Col Conrad Nwawo NA 10 , Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo NA 7,Chief (Mrs) Felicia Adebayo, Chief Hector Omooba

I went through all that to reiterate how my generation innocently admired the regional or state number one citizen in those days. This of course contributed to my natural inclination to be friendly with some of his children that I met along the line. Also to buttress my joy for those of them that survived their elder statesman father.

    I remember that General as he was popularly called, remarked during his 80th birthday celebration in 2008 that God had been so kind to him. Indeed looking back at his military career, to God be the glory for a fulfilled life as evident in all his children that have excelled in their various callings. 

   The very caring distinguished Ekiti man invested in his children and one of his rewards is a most befitting 80 birthday ceremony they put together for their beloved father 9 years ago, while state funeral awaits the 2nd regional governor of the old western region of Nigeria.

    On many fronts he was the last man standing until his time came on 8/3/17. For instance in the military corp, he was (Nigeria Army) NA 1 (formerly NA 7) and since over 10 years ago he was the oldest living army officer. In Ekiti, he belonged to the 1943 set of Christ' School, Ado-Ekiti with the school number 43/005. His classmates that turned out to be prominent people included Chief J.M Akinola, Samuel Kila, Chief Alfred Asebiomo and Emmanuel Osanyintolu. While in the immediate set after him that made Hall of Fame list and contemporaries/friends were Chief Sam Asabia and Justice Olatawura. His other notable buddies from Ekiti were, Most Reverend Abiodun Adetiloye, Chief Ogunleye of Ara, HRM Oba Adetunla Adeleye, Elekole of Ikole and the Paramount ruler of Egbe-Oba Land. He was the only one standing, alas, they have all gone home!
 

    Baba Robert Adebayo was what Yoruba people call gbajumo enia and he was a jolly good fellow. I recall his well attended 80th birthday bash, as it was expected the ceremony paraded his peers, royalty, professional colleagues, government officials and wide range of family friends with King Sunny Ade on the band stand. The aged Most Reverend Abiodun Adetiloye delivered his sermon extempore at Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja. My best best shot of photograph was when the all the retired Generals at the reception lined-up to give the oldest living officer and a gentleman, number NA1 salute in their mufti. Major-General Jemibewon was the parade commander and no doubt it must have been one of the happiest days of the elder statesman.

    I noticed something about him and people of his generation. They were disciplined, committed and very professional in their dealings with people. Whenever he was invited to an event through a formal invite, he would reply you in writing if he was not to going to attend. Also if he was able to attend, be assured that Major-General Adebayo would get there on or before the appointed time. He made the honor's list of Christ's School Alumni Association when Dr U.J Itsueli was inaugurated as the President of the alumni body which made me to contact him on few occasions. Baba was simple and approachable, he picked his calls. He commended the Ekitipanupo Legacy Book which I gave to him and appreciated other published books that I took to him at his Ikeja GRA home. I admired him so much.

    Major-General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo was born on March 9, 1928 in Oketoro quarter of Iyin-Ekiti by an industrious mother and public works employee father. Had his early education at at All Saints Primary School, Iyin-Ekiti, secondary at Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti and Eko Boys High School.He joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana from between 1950 and 1952. He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA 23 and 7th in the Nigerian Army subsequent to passing the War Office Examination for Commonwealth cadets in 1952 as well as the West African qualifying examination in 1953. He became Nigerian military officer with number NA 7 after completing the War Office Cadet Training in Eaton Hall, England. He later attended the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in the late 1965 where he was the only African officer.

     His military postings include: Platoon Commander, 1954-1955; Regimental signal officer, 1955 to 1957; Between 1957 and 1958, he was an aide-de-camp to a British Governor-General (the last British Governor-General of Nigeria- Sir James Robertson-1957); Company and Detachment Commander, Ikoyi, 1958 to 1960; First Nigerian General Staff Officer, Grade 2 (Intelligence) at the United Nations Headquarters in 1961; First national general staff officer, Grade 2 Nigerian Army Headquarters, 1961-1962; First Nigerian to be appointed general staff officer Grade 1, 1962–1963; Commander, Nigerian contingent in the Congo, 1963; He served as staff officer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the Congo crisis, 1961–1963; Chief of staff, Nigerian Army Headquarters, February 1964 – November 1965 (He was the first indigenous Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army); Chairman, Organization of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee, 1963–1965; Head of Nigerian delegation to the OAU Summit in Ethiopia, November 1966; Military governor, Western Nigeria, 1966–1971; Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, 1971–1972; Ceremonial military duties, 1972–1975 and retired from the Nigerian Army with Major-General rank in July 1975.

     As a politician he was one of the founders of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Vice-Chairman in 1979 to 1983. He served as the chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders

On behalf of Ekitipanupo Forum, I sympathize with the noble Adebayo family. Ehin Baba a dara o, amin

Commendation Service at AVMC, Ikeja













Lying-in-State at Ado-Ekiti







Funeral