EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA2016

FOUNDATION’S DAY LECTUREVenue: Main Auditorium, EKSU Campus.

Date: Thurs. 23rd June, 2016

THEME:UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION:THE ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS

GUEST LECTURER:AARE ‘AFE BABALOLA

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.LL, D.Litt, FCI.Arb, FNIALS

2016 FOUNDATION’S DAY

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY,

ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA A FOREMOST PROGRESSIVE AND WORLD CLASS ENVISIONED PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

IN NIGERIA AND SUB SAHARA AFRICA

FROM HUMBLE LEGENDARY BACKGROUND TO THE PINNACLE OF GIANTS

A citation of Aare Emmanuel ‘Afe Babalola OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.LL, D.Litt, FCI.Arb, FNIALS

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With due respect to all Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors & Vice-Chancellors here present, I wish to extend courtesies to all men and women of honour and nobility seated in the auditorium of our ivory tower. I welcome Your Excellencies, Your Majesties, Your Lordship, Distinguished Honourables, Men of Noble Profession, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Today is memorable to us because we are celebrating 34th Annual Foundation’s Day of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti to honour the birth and resilience of our hard-work and the excellence of our academic scholarship driven by pillars of our institution for decades past. The 2016 celebration is an appreciation of our humble beginning, tortuous journey and legendary rise to pinnacle of giants. It influenced the invitation of our iconic legend, worthy Ekiti pillar & patriarch - Aare Emmanuel ‘Afe Babalola SAN, OFR, CON as the Guest Speaker of this Foundation’s Day Lecture. I shall therefore not bore you with rhetoric in introducing him to this gathering.

‘Afe Babalola is a household name in the world of legal practice and advocacy in Nigeria in the past 50 years. His presence and notable contributions are legacies in legal practice, jurisprudence and philanthropy. He’s an icon by mere mention of the names of founders of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Africa and the world. He was born without the proverbial silver spoon, though he came from a lineage of great men and great women, indomitable warriors and prosperous farmers of Ado-Ekiti. His early life started with a sojourn away from home and later in the farm, but divineprovidence led to his enrolment by thefather at Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Okesha , Ado-Ekiti in 1938.

At that time, he had to trek 8 kilometres on weekdays between home and the school. His school life came with memorable experiences that imparted the following virtues in his life: personal discipline, hard work, punctuality, mental alertness, vocational identity, excellent conduct, dedication to duty and a lifestyle of regular physical exercises, personal hygiene, faith in God and charity among others. Upon his completion of primary school, he was offered admission into Form 3 Class at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti in 1945 due to his brilliance. However, he could not pay the £6 fees for secondary education and had to secure job as Pupil Teacher at St. Paul’s School, Ikere-Ekiti. He later taught at Emmanuel School, Ado-Ekiti

where he read and passed the Teacher’s qualifying examinations for admission into St. Andrews College, Oyo. However, the Interviewing Board turn down his admission on account of age and experience. Determined to succeed against the odds, he began to read different textbooks and to memorize their contents in preparation for his academic exploits. In 1947, he entered for the Senior Cambridge Examination and left Ado-Ekiti for Ibadan in 1948 to study and work hard simultaneously toward passing Cambridge School Certificate GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificate Examination by private study. This was penultimate for his admission into University. His adventure to

Ibadan actually laid the foundation for the success of later years. During this period of self-discovery, he served as a school teacher, a clerk and even the Vice-Principal of a School. In 1959, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics of London University by private study and commenced a Bachelor of Law programme LL.B (Hons) of London University which he completed in 1963. He was subsequently called to Bar as a member of the Lincoln’s Inn, London and registered as a member of the Bar of England and Wales. Thereafter, he returned home to begin his legal practice at the Chambers of Olu Ayoola in Ibadan until 1965, when he established his firm of Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers).

His Chamber has since remained a reputable, leading law firm in Nigeria with offices in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and a chamber that produced over 1,500 legal practitioners including Judges and Attorney Generals. His school of thought has produced many first among equals with silk gown (SAN). Aare Afe Babalola also remains a leading light and role model of personal discipline, sound mental health and good physique aided by appetite caution, humility, compassion and charitable life in the midst of his vocation. His legacies also transformed him into a LEGAL ICON like Obafemi Awolowo SAN, Rotimi Williams SAN, Gani Fawehinmi SAN & Richard Akinjide SAN among others. Several celebrated

cases defended by him are points of reference in Nigeria law reports such as: Decree No. 17 of 1984 and Removal of Judges, 2.8 Billion Pounds Enquiry, Alaafin & Ooni’s conflict, MKO Abiola Aare Ona Kankanfo Chieftaincy, Awolowo vs. Concord Press, Abiola & June 12 Case, 2003 Presidential Election & 45 cases handled for President Obasanjo & FGN. He was also an Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court of Nigeria in favour of I.C.P.C. Anti-Corruption Law where his submissions were relied upon for judgment. His high net worth clients are: The World Bank, Shell, Mobil, Pan Ocean & Julius Berger. He was a Presidential Nominee at the Sovereign National Conference and chaired its Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Federalism Committee

In 1981, he actually led a delegation for the creation of a Federal University of Technology at Ado-Ekiti. This led to the transfer of Federal Polytechnic, Akure to Ado-Ekiti in 1982 in exchange for the proposed Federal University of Technology that was relocated to Akure when Ondo State Government decided to establish the State University at Ado-Ekiti. He was the 1st Chairman of Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. He along with others also championed the creation of Ekiti State. He presented the principal memorandum at Mbanefo Panel in 1996 and Federal Military Government strategically and audibly relied on his submissions for the creation of Ekiti State. His focused mind and golden hands are never

tired of thinking, writing and helping his people, the community and those in need. His prowess in the chosen legal career and his love for education influenced his positive roles in the creation of some tertiary institutions in this clime before he founded ‘Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). His impacts are felt in virtually all sectors of the society as he contributed to project development, institutional accreditation, effective planning and total quality management in the take off of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti and in elevating the status of Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti to a Federal Teaching Hospital. Similar attributes were noted in his contributions to the modernization of the Palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti

and early physical development of Ekiti State University Faculty of Law. He also built and donated a multi-million Naira ultra modern building for the Anglican Church at Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti; a Multipurpose Auditorium at University of Lagos; a building of African Heritage Library at Olorunda-Aba, Ibadan; a multi-million Nuclear Medicine Building at the University College Hospital, Ibadan; two Model Bar Centres for Nigerian Bar Association at Ibadan and Ado-Ekiti; a block of flats for Inland Club, Ado-Ekiti and several endowments in higher institutions at home and abroad. He initiated BOT worth billions of Naira for hostel constructions at UNILAG and Endowment Fund for the award of 500 full scholarship to indigent

Undergraduates - the 1st of its kind in the history of Nigerian Universities. He made substantial financial contributions to the rehabilitation of prisoners apart from his outstanding contributions to the development of Jurisprudence and case law in Nigeria through his indelible court room advocacy and extensive contributions to Laws of Evidence. Today, he has 6 Law publications apart from a book written on University Administration and published by N.U.C. At the last count, he had over 45 learned articles and published lectures. For many years, he was a Lecturer at Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies,Post Graduate Schools of Universitiesof Lagos and Ibadan, Centre of African

Law and Development Studies and also pioneered the Faculty of Law at his University – ABUAD. His name rings the toll of bell sounds in legal education and practice in Nigeria and even in other non-legal issues. This is why he was conferred with the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and admitted with full privileges into the Nigerian Inner Bar in 1987. He later became Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG and elected Chairman of Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. He received 2005 and 2006 award of Best Pro-Chancellor of Nigerian Universities. National Universities Commission (NUC) described his University as a reference point. UNESCO regarded it as a model, the fastest growing

private University in Africa. He is an administrator of repute with skills in domestic and international arbitration. He is a Grand Patron of Academic Halls, Prestigious Clubs, Associations and Law Societies at Ibadan, lle-Ife, Ago-Iwoye, Ado-Ekiti and Lagos apart from national bodies like Nigerian Union of Journalists, Sports Writers' Association of Nigeria, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students and the National Union of Campus Journalists. His consistent success in legal advocacy and investments in real estate, manufacturing financial & agricultural complexes, Insurance, Oil & Gas is commendable. His interest in farming and ownership of large farms of tick

and palm trees, permanent crops and fish farming is a legacy. He is a member of Nigerian Bar Association; International Bar Association; Trustee & Patron, Transparency International; Fellow & President, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria; Member, Rectors of Europe; Honourary Professor of International University; former member, Body of Benchers (Nigeria’s ruling body of legal profession) and Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee of Nigeria (responsible for appointing SAN), former member of State Judicial Service Commission; Awardee of Queen Victoria’s Commemorative Award of European Business Assembly, Oxford U.K., Fellow of Institute of Advance Legal Studies and Federal Polytechnic,

Ado-Ekiti; Fellow, Leadership Institute of Nigeria; Fellow of West African College of Nursing; Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE); Patron, Association of Commonwealth Scholars & Fellows of Alumni Associations. He holds the coveted, prestigious national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON). He was awarded the Doctor of Laws (hc) - University of Ado-Ekiti (EKSU) 2002; Doctor of Letters (hc) - Kogi State University 2012; Doctor of Laws (hc) -University of Lagos & University of Jos respectively 2013; Doctor of Laws (h.c.) University of London 2015, a rare honour. He is a member of Ekiti State Elders Forum (a Government Advisory Body). He got the African

Man of the year Award in Education from All African Students’ Union (2011) and the African Man of the year Award in Food Security in 2014. He was recognized as a Philanthropist Per Excellence by Nigerian Union of Journalist while the National Association of Nigerian Students recognized him as a Founder of the Most Dynamic, Progressive & Fastest Growing University in Nigeria. He also bagged Zik Prize for Humanitarian Leadership (2014) and another international award in Johannesburg, South Africa recently. He won the Highest Tax Payer Award in Ondo & Ekiti States for many years. His University - ABUAD received Award of Best Private University in Nigeria from National Association of Nigeria Law Students

(2012), European Quality Award from International Corporation of Social Partnership Oxford (2012) whiles the European Business Assembly, Oxford entered ABUAD into World Register of Outstanding Scientists of 21st Century. Webometric also ranked ABUAD as 2nd Best private university & 13th best in Nigeria in 2013. He parades numerous honorary chieftaincy titles that are subsumed as of less significance to his iconic title of AARE BAMOFIN of Yoruba nation which His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Lamidi Adeyemi II, the Alaafin of Oyo conferred on him in 2008 in recognition of his legendary exploits in legal practice and his fame that spread abroad beyond African shores and the Black race.

The Alaafin in pronouncing him as Aare Bamofin decreed his preeminence as a Royal Highness and tribal legend. He was forbidden from prostrating to any man again, except God and was required to carry himself in the manner of a royalty. The distinguished speaker at today’s lecture is therefore fit and qualified to deliver the 34th EKSU foundation’s day lecture. He is competent to make known his views as an authority and pillar of reference. May I therefore respectfully with the permission of Vice-Chancellor – Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele humbly invite Aare ‘Afe Babalola SAN, OFR, CON, LL.D (Ado-Ekiti), LL.D (London), an international jurist, educator, unrivaled philanthropist, distinguished patriot,

a legal icon, founder of ABUAD, Patriarch and a great benefactor, to step forward to deliver the 2016 EKSU Foundation day’s lecture.

Thank you.