From News Editor
The Founder and Chancellor of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola SAN has requested for the actualization of the Free Trade Zone for the ABUAD Industrial Park which applied for from the Federal Government.
The legal luminary stated this when a delegation from the Nigerian -American Chamber of Commerce, led by Dr. Bello Nuhu Dongondaji, the Secretary visited him to present him the chamber ‘s Lifetime Achievement Award at the ABUAD campus Ado Ekiti.
He said that no ones that can develop Nigeria, adding that, No Chinese, no Japanese, no American can do it. “We all must come together, brace up and develop the enormous potentials we have in this country.”
Expressing his gratitude for the award, the legal Icon said “I have always believed that God’s time is the best. God’s time has come today. Today is the day the Lord has made, and we are glad and rejoicing in it. I have been on this planet earth for almost 100 years now.
“This is the happiest day of my life. Indeed, I am short of words. I am moved. I don’t know we have a forward-looking organisation like the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce that is not only watching us, but that is thinking the way we are thinking.
“There is no one in the world that does not like good things. For me, I like good things and I daily work towards achieving good things. And that was why I started this university some 15 years ago after my seven-year stint as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG. You have made my day indeed.I thank your organization for being what you are.Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“We are the ones that can develop it. No Chinese, no Japanese, no American can do that for us. We all must come together, brace up and develop the enormous potentials we have in this country. I will need your assistance in the actualization of the Free Trade Zone which I have applied for in the past.”
According to ABUAD founder, the realization of that dream would boost the development of the state and the country by extension.
“I thank you for selecting me for the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education, Law, Healthcare, Agriculture, Community Development and Philanthropy in appreciation of what you Described as my “Extra-ordinary contributions in various areas of human endeavour.
“I sincerely appreciate your taking time to go round our university. There is no doubt that the said tour enabled you and members of your team the rare opportunity of touring our serene campus, our ABUAD Enterprise Farms, our Independent Power Plant, our bourgeoning 124-unit Small, Medium and Large-scale Industrial Park and our ultra-modern 400-bed Multi- System Hospital which has been endorsed by leading Healthcare Stakeholders as “the most well-equipped Hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa”.
In his remarks, Dr. Bello Nuhu Dongondaji, the Secretary of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce described Babalola as an incredible and wonderful personality.
He said : “Baba, you have made my day. You are wonderful creature of God. I am a different person from what I was when I came to the university earlier in the day.
“I have gone round. I have seen what an individual with a dream, with passion and with resilience has done, I am challenged. I have heard a lot about this university. I have seen the stuff you are made of. I have seen what you have been doing for humanity. You are doing well, and you will continue to live in good health to continue to add value to humanity.
“What you are doing is incredible. You are a wonderful person.I am donating n100,000 from my little income to support what you are doing here. I have seen facilities in Nigerian universities and in universities outside nigeria, but i have not seen any comparable to yours.
“I have not seen facilities working like what you have put in place here for which I commend you, sir. You are a special specie from God. You have impacted my life just like you have impacted many before me.
“My prayer is that I should be able to do just 1% of what you have done here, it is simply Awesome. we will escalate the good works you are doing here to the world. You are doing more than human beings can comprehend.”
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said “You have come at the right time to visit the man who has successfully changed the narratives of quality and functional education in Nigeria barely 15 years after the commencement of his university on January 4, 2010.
“Thanks for giving us hope, particularly about assisting us with the international market for the products of our industrial park. This will no doubt gladden the heart of the founder, a man who is ever ready to change the world for the better.
“As the president of the Nigerian-American chamber of commerce, you are indeed in the best position to assist us in this regard. That will further buy our position in achieving the world bank’s functions of a university properly so-called, to wit: quality teaching, quality research and community impact.”
