By Precious Erioluwa
The Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, has suggested that awards by both the federal and state governments should be extended to other segments of the society rather than being limited to the well-to-do.
The legal expert advocated this while receiving “The Man Of The Year, 2024 Award” conferred on him by the Ekiti Summit Magazine, an Ado-Ekiti-based media outfit, which took place at the Senate Chamber of ABUAD.
He said the federal and state governments should appreciate those who merit awards and extend such to the downtrodden which would include the market women and men, petty traders, artisans and other categories as a way of recognizing their contributions in the society.
The educationist appreciated the publisher, Mr Femi Alufa and his team for considering him worthy of the honour. He said he was short of words because he never knew the media outfit was planning to bestow such award on him. ” I appreciate them and the entire university management and staff who saw to the success of the whole arrangement”.
“The way to achieve success is to dream of success. Someone who doesn’t dream of success cannot succeed. I want others to grow up better then me “.
The Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Ekiti Summit Magazine, Mr Femi Alufa, gave the following as accountable for the award :
– The ranking of ABUAD as number one among all the 264 federal, state and private universities in Nigeria for three consecutive years, 2022, 2023 and 2024;
– Number one in the world SDG 7, number one in the World in Outreach with a score of 98%:
– Number one in the World in Stewardship with a score of 98%:
– Number four in Africa, and number 142 amongst the 2,152 universities ranked globally in 2024:
– No individuals living or dead has ever contributed to the educational development, philanthropy and Ekiti pristine values of excellence, knowledge, integrity,transparency and I industry more than Aare Afe Babalola in any generation.
According to him, ‘ the media outfit is extremely happy and impressed by the outstanding achievements of the Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland in all areas of human endeavours’. Adding that Ekiti Summit News Media Person of the Year Award is a merit and value-based award which emerged after a rigorous screening process to recognize and celebrate the eminent personalities that make our lives sublime as a people in Ekiti State, Nigeria’.
Vice Chancellor, ABUAD, Prof. Elisabeta Samaranda Olarinde, said Afe Babalola deserved the honour because his contributions to mankind are staggering and eternal. ” This is the central theme of his life, a life donated to service and advancement of mankind with a resolute determination to uplift and enrich the human race. At every opportunity, our Chancellor’s commitment for a greater and better world remains his ultimate motivation “.
She described Afe Babalola as a “Special man ” born into grinding poverty and absence of opportunities to advance in life, yet he has created opportunities for generations of people. The VC noted that he took into a future of opportunities which education could afford him and forged on when lack of funds had shut the doors against him for secondary and university education.