OUR MISSION The mission of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide is ”to imbibe the culture of service to humanity and nurture future leaders which Aare Afe Babalola’s life exemplified.”
What is Afe Babalola Day all about?
December 12 every year was adopted by Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) as AFE BABALOLA DAY. Anyone who has benefited from Aare Afe Babalola’s benevolent gesture is automatically a member.
Aare Afe Babalola
The ultimate purpose of Afe Babalola Day is to emulate Aare Afe Babalola’s empathy to people through his philanthropic activities in the society while Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide, the organizers of the programme use the Day to honor outstanding people who have distinguished themselves in their respective sphere of calling in our society.
This day, December 12, is a day when the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries across the globe use to give to the needy; give scholarship/bursary award to indigent students and also to support education of orphans as education is the bedrock of success and foundation of progress of any individuals and society.
Why are we celebrating Afe Babalola Day annually
Our benefactor, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, is a living legend, Pan Africanist and benefactor of humanity.
He is a multitalented man; an erudite legal Icon, foremost legal luminary, pre-eminent educationist and humanitarian extra ordinaries. He is an unparalleled Philanthropist whose happiest moment is when others around him are happy
Aare Afe Babalola has brought honour and dignity to Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria by establishing a world class university and Multi-System Teaching Hospital in the state. Apart from the Ekiti State government, his university is the highest employer of labour in the state till now.
The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), founded by him in 2009, has been named the best private university in Nigeria in the world ranking of 2018. Also, ABUAD is the fastest growing private university in Africa.
Till this moment, Aare Afe Babalola remains the highest tax payer in Ekiti State right from the old Ondo State. His farm, ABUAD farms in Ado Ekiti is bigger than some towns in Nigeria.
This great man added his powerful connection to ensure that Ekiti State was created among others on October 1st, 1996 by the then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha of blessed memory.
ABUAD is also ranked as No. 2 Best University in Nigeria among all Federal, State and private universities and polytechnics numbering about 278. His Multi-System Teaching Hospital which is equipped with latest teaching equipment was described by Hon.
Minister of Health as the best he has seen in this part of the world which put an end to medical tourism in the country. Afe Babalola University was registered in November 2009, and in his capacity as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2001 to 2007, he successful reformed the university which was ranked number One university in Nigeria.
He also won the best Pro-Chancellor Award from the NUC. ABUAD’s College of Law was acknowledged as the Best College of Law in West Africa by NUC while the college of Engineering was described by Nigeria Society of Engineers as the template for engineering education in the country. The college has won global awards in London and USA.
This great man played significant role in establishing Ondo State University now Ekiti State University and Federal Polytechnic in Ado Ekiti. His contributions in Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, to make it model are on record for posterity.
He is a man who has spent the better part of his life developing and promoting education at all levels.
For the past 60 years of his legal profession, he has assisted and trained over 3,000 lawyers, 14 of whom are now Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Judges, Attorneys General, among others.
He has bagged notable awards locally, nationally and internationally. Recently, he was conferred with the African Role Model and African Union Agenda 2063 Awards by the African Union Economic Social-Cultural Council.
He also bagged ”A Peace Time Hero Award and Ekiti Parapo Patriot Award”, during 2018/2019 Ekiti Parapo Festival. He bagged 2019 Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize.
The organizers of Ekiti Peace Day on World Peace Day 2019, named him the EKITI MAN OF THE MILLENNIUM in recognition of his pivotal contribution to education and Ekiti Community Development more than any individual in history.
Aare Afe Babalola that I know is a practical agriculture expert and a trail blazer in the health sector.
He is a pride to Ekiti State, Yoruba race and Nigeria as a whole. He remains a role model to our generation even the generations yet unborn. The reforms of ABUAD cut across curriculum development, practice-based learning, finding, teaching, research and entrepreneurial and vocational skills.
Just 10 years of existence, ABUAD has been recognized by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) as ”a model, benchmark and reference point for other universities” and also ”the pride of university education in the country.
For years, he has been an indefatigable supporter of the masses and he is in forefront of defending the common citizens of Nigeria.
He is a goal getter, a man of many firsts and a man of unbroken record. The University of London, UK in appreciation of his contributions to Law and Education awarded him honorary LL.D degree, the first black man in history to be so awarded.
We are celebrating him so that others well-to-do people can emulate him by coming home to invest in their people, communities and states.
Names of those who had bagged Distinguished Men & Women of the Year during Afe Babalola Day
These include the following: Arole Oduduwa, His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife; His Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola (Wife of the founder of ABUAD), Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, first Executive Governor of Ekiti State, HRM Oba (Sir) Oluwole Ademolaju OON, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, HRM Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland: HRM Oba Ilori Faboro, JP, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, HRM Oba Adamo Babalola, the Onitaji of Itaji; Oba Noah Omonigbehin, the Olomuo of Omuo-Ekiti; Oba Adebayo Adewole, the Ajero of Ijero kingdom, Asiwaju Deji Fasuan, Barr. Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Barr. Femi Falana, SAN, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Hon. kehinde Agboola, Barr. Wale Fapohunda, Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, Barr. Owoseni Ajayi, former Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, Barr. Owoseni Ajayi, High Chief Alex Olu-Ajayi, the Odoba Ado Ekiti; Primate Funke Babayemi (Iya Ewe Jerusalem Church of the Lord International), Olori Funke Omotoyinbo, wife of the Apalufin of Aisegba-Ekiti, Chief Jimoh Aliu, MFR, Prof. Franscisca Aladejana, Former Chairman Ekiti SUBEB, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, former Vice Chancellor, ABUAD, Yeye Otunba (Dr) Titi Oyejola, UN Consultant, Prince Akintunde Ayeni (CEO of YEMKEM Group), Chief Julius Ajayi ( Little by Little), Comrade Bunmi Ajimoko, former President NULGE Ekiti State, Alhaji Olaseni, Chief Olu Ogundola, top Official of the Nigeria Customs Service, Prof. Adeyemi Daramola (UNILAG), Prof. Rasaq Bakare (FUOYE), Chief Akin-Ojo (Ataiyese), Erelu Funmi Rotiba, the list includes many Obas, Vice Chancellors and Professors among others.
Other awardee include: HE.Kayode Fayemi, CON, Former Executive Governor of Ekiti State, HE Erelu Bisi Adeley-Fayemi, Wife of the Former Governor of Ekiti State, Her Majesty Bosede Adejugbe, The Eyesorun of Ado Ekiti, Her Excellency Eniola Ajayi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Netherlands; Engr. Olusegun Oni, former Governor of Ekiti State, Her Excellency Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof Peter Okebukola, Former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria University Commission (NUC), Prof E. Smaranda Olarinde, Vice Chancellor, ABUAD, Hon. Olusola Fatoba, member House of Representatives, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, EKSU Vice Chancellor, Mr Asuquo Amba, Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Otunba (Dr) Kunle Olajide, a foremost Pan-Yoruba leader, Chief Dare Babarinsa, founding Editor TELL Magazine, Alhaji (Engr) Sulaimon Ayoola (Sarumi), President Ado Progressive Union, Hon. Layode Omotosho, Hon Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye, member Ekiti State House of Assembly, Princess Adebimple Oyebade, Nollywood Actress, Comrade Japheth Odesanya, former Secretary of Ikorodu LGA, Lagos and CEO of the Factor Magazine, Captain Olusola Wellington Alufa, HRM Oba Justice John Ademola Ajaikaye, the late Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti (Posthumous), among others.
Who are the 2019 Afe Babalola Golden Awardee?
2018 Golden Awardee the likes of Ambassador Prof. Iyorwuese Hager, OON, Ambassador Prof. Tundr Adeniran, OFR, Prof. Israel Orubuloye, OON, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN, Mr. Adegboyegba Awomolo, SAN, Mrs. Funke Adakeja, Prof. Olawumi Ajaja, Prof. Yekini O. Lawal, Justice Tayo, Prof. Esan, Aluko, Dr. Femi Oladimeji, Mr. Isiaka Iyadunni, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, Mr. Modupe Babalola, Mr. Tundr Olofintila, Prof. I.E. Owolabi, Oluwasesan Dada, Esq, Mr. O. Taiwo, Mr Christie Oluborode, Mrs Roselyn Subair and Ms. Tope Sobajo. We appreciate them for their invaluable contributions to Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) to become a benchmark and first class world institution on its one decade of existence. We are extremely grateful for their role in ABUAD development to become an educational hub of our nation and indeed Africa.
Vision of ABBW
God’s willing the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) will have endowment and resource center that will cater for building the Afe Babalola Hall of Fame with a state of the art modern equipment, ICT center, E-Library, e- museum, art gallery, etc. It will be a hall of Fame of international standard, where you will be able access to all relevant vital information about Aare Afe Babalola, his up to date biography, his pictures, his library, and all his life achievements and awards to be seen by visiting researchers, tourists and Afe Babalola admirers across the globe.
All the past and present ABBW patron/matrons, awardees and honoraries that contributed to the success of our projects/programmes shall have their names, portraits and biographical sketch, displayed there for posterity. The ABBW Endowment Fund will continue to upkeep and maintain the lofty ideals of the project and the legacies of our benefactor Aare Afe Babalola perpetually.
