From Adedayo Ojo
The Founder and Chancellor of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola SAN has urged the Federal Government to stop celebrating politicians without any proven track records with National Honours.
Babalola who stated this yesterday when he was presented the award of ‘Ekiti Summit Person of the Year’ by the Ekiti Summit Magazine publisher Femi Alufa at the ABUAD campus, said that many of the awardees lack the moral and social standing needed for the award.
According to the legal icon, the annual awards of merit have lost focus because it is being bestowed on many undeserving individuals who have not contributed to humanity or their environment.
He said that rather than focus on the politicians, the Federal government should look at the ordinary Nigerians such as farmers, Market women, Drivers, artisans and others who have distinguished themselves one way or another in their vocations.
In doing this, Babalola said, the Federal government would be encouraging hard work, patriotism and at the same time give credibility to the annual merit award.
Babalola described the Publisher of the Summit Magazine as a very patriotic person, saying that if Ekiti could produce ten of such selfless individuals, the state would not be the same again.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, said the idea of magazines having a person of the Year Award is not an alien practice; ”it is a rich tradition where person(s) with exceptional qualities and contributions to the advancement of humanity are chosen for such honour.
“Our Chancellor is eminently qualified on account of his sterling and ennobling contributions to the advancement of humanity. In this instance, the publisher of the Ekiti Summit has chosen a great man with achievements too many to ignore, and for us is a unique opportunity to further celebrate our highly revered leader.
“While this is a responsibility-filled day for me, it’s also an emotional moment as we have gathered once again to celebrate a man of great value, international reputation and tireless energy. His contributions to mankind are staggering and eternal.”
In his remarks why presenting the Award to Babalola, the publisher of the Summit Magazine, Femi Alufa said his media outfit is extremely happy and impressed by the outstanding achievements of the Aare Babalola in all areas of human endeavours.
“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 of Nigeria.
“Aare Afe Babalola is my personal hero whom I have kept his portrait on my bedroom wall for more than a decade ago even before I met him physically in Ibadan shortly before the founding of his iconic Ivory tower; the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) in 2009, the same year Ekiti Summit News Magazine was established as a community newspaper for promoting developmental journalism in Ekiti State.”
End.
