From John Adeleye, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti youths, under the auspices of Ekiti Youths Home Based (EYHB), on Tuesday called on the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to set aside a day as public holiday in honour of the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola’s unmatched contributions to the growth and development of the state.
The youth group stated this in a statement made available to newsmen by it’s convener, Ademola Adedayo in Ado Ekiti.
Recall that former political Adviser to President Mohammodu Buhari and former Ekiti Central Senator , Babafemi Ojudu, also canvassed same position, saying that Babalola’s extraordinary life and contributions to education, law, and various sectors, made a compelling case for Ekiti State, to declare an Afe Babalola Day to appreciate him.
According to the EYHB, Babalola deserved to be honoured with such a special day, considering the good name, as well as reputation he had continually brought to Ekiti in years past.
The youth group said apart from playing prominent roles in the creation of the state in 1996, Babalola had over the years, remained the highest tax payer in the state, as well as largest single farmer, and also the largest employer of labour, after the state government.
“We are proud to note that Afe Babalola has dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity, a trailblazer in promoting education and empowering the youths in vocations and agriculture through his yearly award of millions of Naira to the best farmers in each of the local governments of Ekiti, and has brought global honour and recognition to Ekiti, Nigeria and humanity”, the statement said.
The statement added that Babalola had also succeeded in helping government to reduce high rate of unemployment in the state and country, through his many investments.
It said Babalola particularly drew the world attention to the name of Ekiti, through the establishment of his world-class Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD), his 400-Bed ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, as well as his 132-Number Industrial Park, all of which are situated in Ekiti, and had employed huge number of job-seeking graduates, and non-graduates alike.
Besides, the statement noted that Babalola is a leading Nigerian philanthropist, whose benevolent activities to individuals, corporate bodies, associations and institutions, are legendary and unrivaled.
Babalola, who will attain the age of 95 on October 30, 2024, was called to the England bar in 1963 after years of self/private education, and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1987.
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