The All African Student’s Union has named Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), the African Man of the Year 2011. This was announced at a press conference held at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
In attendance at the Press Conference were the Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Professor Sidi Osho; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. M.O. Ajisafe; the Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode; the Bursar, Pastor Modupe Babalola. Others were Prof. Oluyinka Akingbade; Provost College of Social and Management Sciences, Dr. Y.O. Lawal and the University Councillor, Dr. O. Ojo. Also in attendance were the AASU Officials amongst who were Dr. Femi Adetola, the AASU Country Representative, Yinka Dallas and the Secretary General, AASU, Mr Olufemi Lawson.
While delivering his address, the AASU Secretary General, Mr. Lawson said, the decision of the Union to confer on this illustrious Son of Africa this prestigious honour is in fundamental realization of his genuine commitment to the development of education in the continent. According to him, there is no doubt that no other individual in any country has deepened his commitment to education in the area of scholarships with massive awards to students, capturing the physically challenged, indigent students with leadership qualities and scholars drawn from all parts of the country than Aare Afe Babalola.
Lawson declared that, while so many other leaders of his generation are preoccupied with several inordinate ambitions, quest to acquire multi-billion private jets and building mansions and skyscrapers across the land, Aare Afe Babalola has continued to dedicate his time and hard earned resources to human capacity development and the welfare of the downtrodden thereby giving hope to the younger generation that indeed there is a brighter rewarding future.
The Secretary General, Mr. Lawson, therefore used the medium to call on other opulent individuals in the continent to take a leaf out of Aare Afe Babalola’s book in order to improve the standard of education in Africa.
He said, the peculiarity of this honour is the fact that it will commemorate the commencement of African Students Annual Personality lecture that has unanimously been named the Afe Babalola Annual Lecture of the All Africa Students Union with the first series scheduled to coincide with the formal presentation of the Africa Man of the Year Award to Chief Afe Babalola in July, 2011.
Reacting to the gesture from AASU, the Vice Chancellor who spoke on behalf of the Founder and President Emeritus, Aare Afe Babalola, said that the Founder has found education as a way to build personalities with leadership qualities such as discipline, integrity and honesty. She declared that the educational sector award is meant for the Founder, in that, he has found education as a way of imparting these character traits in our youths of today. The University Don, Prof. Sidi Osho, therefore used the medium to awaken the All African Students’ Union to reach out to African parents and guardians that there is a University in Africa known as Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD) that has all the facilities for learning; hence going abroad to study is not necessary.