The Founder/President,
I read with joy the absolutely delightful news of the above landmark achievements at ABUAD. Then, NTA, in its 9 pm(Nigeria Time) prime Newscast hour, recently had a feast on these achievements and dished out delicious meals to Nigerians and others in international communities where people tuned in to the news broadcast. The newscast whetted the appetite of people on the superb facilities in ABUAD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND TEACHING HOSPITAL. Then, at Ado Bayero University, Kano 35th Convocation Lecture, totally unsolicited, HE General Yakubu Gowon GCFR, in a fleeting second, referred to Afe Babalola in a most positive and complimentary sense. In the pool, there is no hiding place for a gold fish.
Within a decade, ABUAD has carved a niche for herself in the comity of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria and beyond. Quality is her hallmark. This quality isn’t cheap. It is driven from the top by a committed, dedicated, focused, determined and never-say-die, and exceedingly hard-working Founder and financier of ABUAD, your good self, sir, AARE EMMANUEL AFE BABALOLA. You continually justify the maxim: QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP DICTATES THE QUALITY FOLLOWERSHIP. If you have not spelt out your vision and backed it up with implementable strategies and detailed action plan well monitored for deliverables to relevant audiences in ABUAD, the current celebration would not have happened. The hair-raising testimony of Dr Bukola Balogun( the first Cardiovascular Patient at ABUAD) wouldn’t have been.
A major success factor in ABUAD, therefore, is that the Institution has a VISIONER AND AN ACTUALISER combined in her Founder, a unique combination in our own part of the world.
Believe it, Baba, my Baba, that the best is yet to come for ABUAD. My prayer is that at the fullness of time, when you will be called home by God who destined you for this uncommon task and which you are executing with equally uncommon and uncompromising passion and focus and with uncommon stunningly brilliant success manifesting, God himself will provide someone of tremendous and diverse blessings from HIM to carry on sustainably the huge legacy you are leaving behind which may be one of the 7 wonders of the 21st Century in the field of Tertiary Education. Time will tell but I am bold to say ABUAD is on the right trajectory.
Congratulations, Baba, my Baba. TO GOD BE THE GLORY; GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE AND GREATER THINGS HE WILL STILL DO IN ABUAD AND IN YOUR LIFE.
Remi Omotoso