Known for his humility and philanthropic gestures, Aare Afe Babalola has again solely donated a building worth over N100million to the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado Ekiti Branch. This new philanthropic deed makes the 22nd, among others, that Aare Afe Babalola has donated to humanity and for benefit of mankind.
The Bar Centre, named Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre was erected on an expansive land within the High Court Ado Ekiti premises, and was officially commissioned on March 3, 2011.
While commissioning the Bar Centre, his Excellency, Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by the Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Dr Ganiyu Owolabi, said, with the donation, Aare Afe Babalola has written his name in gold, and he has also made the jobs of lawyers in Ekiti State easy, as they can consult legal books and prepare for other legal-related activities before appearing in court.
The Governor disclosed that, with the donation by Aare Afe Babalola, and the establishment of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola has helped the State government to accomplish two of the eight point agenda of his administration which are human development and education.
The National President of NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu stated that, Afe Babalola has made giant strides in the legal profession, and that the building of over N100million Bar Centre is laudable and worthy of emulation by other wealthy Nigerians.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, who was royally present at the occasion, poured encomiums on Afe Babalola for this donation. He described him as a special gift to Nigeria, and to Ekiti State in particular. The Royal Majesty disclosed that, Aare Afe Babalola has been known for a long time for outstanding donations and human development.
The traditional ruler used the occasion to call on Ekiti sons and daughters in Nigeria and the Diaspora to come home and develop the State, for it is their responsibility to develop the State.
Responding to the encomiums rained on him, Aare Afe Babalola implored Nigerians to develop the habit of giving or developing communities. He stated that, the Bar Centre commissioned today has increased the number of donations he has made to 22.
He further stated that Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD) is unique and the philosophy behind its establishment is to lead education reform in Nigeria by example. Aare Afe Babalola therefore advised that, nothing succeeds more than endurance and determination, as the events of yesterday is the history of today.