There are two major categories of people in life, people that are either instrumental to one’s fortune or misfortune. In this special interview with the pinpointnews, Chief Ogunniyi Morakinyo a k.a KAYEGBO, a journalist, publisher, entertainment promoter, the initiator of Afe Babalola’s Day and Founder of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) among others, bares his mind on the personality of Aare Are Babalola and some of his giant Strides. Excerpts:
How would you describe the man called Aare Are Babalola?
AARE AFE BABALOLA, SAN, OFR, CON, is a living legend, Pan Africanist and benefactor of humanity. He is an lcon of value, an erudite legal Icon, foremost legal luminary, pre-eminent educationist and humanitarian extra-ordinary. He is an unparalleled philanthropist whose happiest moment is when others around him are happy. He 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 number two Best University in Nigeria among all Federal, State and private universities including Polytechnics numbering about 278, his Multi-System Teaching Hospital which is equipped with latest teaching equipment was described by the 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 successfully 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 describe by Nigeria Society of Engineers as the template for Engineering education in the country. He has won global awards in London and USA. This great man played significant roles 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 61 years of his legal profession, he has assisted and trained over 3,000 lawyers, 14 of whom are now Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Judges, Attorneys-General among others. He has bagged notable awards locally, nationally and internationally. Recently, he was conferred with the African Role Model and the African Union Agenda 2023, 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 contributions 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 generations yet unborn.
The reforms of ABUAD cut across curriculum development, learning, finding, teaching, research and entrepreneurial and vocational skills. Just 12 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”.
Would you briefly tell us what you have derived from Aare Afe Babalola?
Life is all about give and take, Whoever receives much also expects much in return. My mentor, my hero, and my supporter is Aare Afe Babalola. I will forever be grateful to him for what I derived from him. He invested money in my life 25 years ago to help me build my media Outfit, and that investment helped shape who I am today. I enlisted the help of some people I know who had benefited from him in order to repay him, and together we worked to raise money for the Afe Babalola Hall of Fame and Gardens in Okemesi, Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria. The names of those who have contributed to the legacy projects are now inscribed on marble at the Hall of Fame @ Hillside, Okemesi Ekiti.
Why Afe Babalola Hall of Fame and Garden project?
Afe Babalola Hall of Fame and Garden is my initiative, a veritable tourist centre dedicated to honour a living legend, the philanthropist of our time and Founder/Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, my Benefactor, for his exemplary contribution to humanity.
What’s the project like?
Right inside the garden, you will see Ewi Oba Adejugbe VIP Place and mini pavilions built by admirers of Baba Afe, which include His Royal Majesty, Ewiof Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Asiwaju Okemesi land, Chief Samuel Bolarinde, Yeye Otunba Dr. Titi Oyejola and Dr. Femi Alabi.
Others include; mini chalets for tourists donated by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, (MOB) CON, Olawale Fapounda, SAN and Village Kitchen built by MOBIZ Caterers to take care of tourists coming there. In front of Afe Babalola Hall of Fame, you will see the bust of Baba Afe, on which you can read his achievements on marble. Inside the garden, there is children’s playing equipments donated by Rev. Dr. Gbemisola Olukoya Danielle, Founder of Cecemee Care Foundation based in United Kingdom.
Acknowledgement
Afe Babalola Hall of Fame was built from donation of ABBW which include the initiator, Chief Ogunniyi Solomon Morakinyo (Kayegbo), the Amuludun of Okemesi land and publisher of Kayegbo International magazine. Others include HRM Oba (Justice) John Ademola Ajakaiye, the late Oluyin, who was the pioneer President of ABBW from 2013 to 2017.
Those who contributed and were part of Afe Babalola’s Days since 2013 are ABUAD’s first Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, the current VC, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, ABUAD lecturers, Adebayo Adenipekun SAN, Lucas Daramola SAN, Mr. Isiaka Iyadunni, Her Excellencies Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Prof. Modupe Adeola Adelabu, Amb. Eniola Ajayi and Erelu Engr. Kemi Josephine Elebute-Halle.
Others include High Chief Alex Olu-Ajayi, the Odoba of Ado -Ekiti, Primate Funke Babayemi (Iya Ewe, Jerusalem of Church), Eyesorun Bosede Adejugbe, Olori Apalufin Bosede Omotoyinbo, Owa Ooye Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, and his chiefs who installed Baba Afe and his wife as Jagunmolu & Yeye Jagunmolu Atuluse of Okemesi land in 2018.
The list continues, Arole Oduduwa, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Rufus Adeyemi Adejugbe, Ewi Ado, Oba Ilori Faboro, (Olojudo), Oba Aderemi Obaleye (Olojudo-Ile), Oba Alhaji Idowu Adamo Babalola (Onitaji), Oba Noah Omonigbehin (Olomuo), Oba Joseph Adewole Adebayo (Ajero) and late Ologotun Oba Samuel Oyebade
Those who also contributed to annual Afe Babalola’s Days were Chief Mrs. Joke Adebayo Chukwumah, Barr. Tunde Ola-Olorun, Dr. Femi Alabi, Aare and Yeye Aare Akotewolu of Ado Ekiti, Chief and Chief Mrs. Oluwole Orungbe. The Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and former Chairman, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon (Onisan) and Oba Sir. Oluwole Ademolaju (Oloye) respectively are always playing fatherly roles on the success of ABBW projects.
Some of those who have bagged Afe Babalola’s Awards for their contributions to Afe Babalola’s Day were His Excellencies Biodun Oyebanji, Asiwaju Olusegun Oni, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, Chief Dare Babarinsa, Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba MHR, Aare Kunle Olajide, Prof. Tunde Adeniran among others.
From the entrance of the Hall of Fame & gardens, you will climb 79 Steps to Kayegbo Hillside Resort where you will see the Cenotaph of World Legends and the Altar of Solution Prayer Centre for all Nations, which I personally bankrolled to add value to the garden. Afe Babalola Garden is very far from the two main roads leading to the top of Agbonna Hills, Okemesi Ekiti. You can go straight to the garden from Owa Ooye palace.