Ewi Of Ado Ekiti, Community Leaders Fix 18th October To Honour Afe Babalola Yearly 

… Seeks President Tinubu’s Approval To Confer GCON on Afe Babalola 

… Says Market To Be Closed 

By Philip Tayo 

The Ewi of Ado Ekiti Kingdom, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and the Ado Ekiti Community Leaders has officially fixed the 18th of October every year as a day already set aside to celebrate the Ekiti State legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola for his contributions to his Country Home of Ado Ekiti and to humanity in general, and seeking the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to confer on Are Afe Babalola the title of Grand Commander Of The Order Of Niger, GCON.

Briefing newsmen at the Palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe on Tuesday, the former Senator who represented the Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, and the Co-Chairman for the Aare Afe Babalola Day, Senator Babafemi Ojudu made the announcements.

Ojudu in his address stated that Aare Afe Babalola Day will take place on the 18th of October, 2024 and would henceforth be replicated yearly to celebrate him for standing out in his life endeavors and for making outstanding and positive imparts on those around him, his Community, State, Nigeria as a Country and the World at large. 

He hailed Aare Afe Babalola for been a renowned Nigerian with great imparts and contributions in Education, Law Practice, Agriculture, Health, Science and Technology and Business among others. 

Making emphasizes, Ojudu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider Aare Afe Babalola for a higher honour above his previous Commander Of The Order Of Niger, CON, by conferring on him a National Award of the Grand Commander Of The Order Of Niger, GCON. 

He described Aare Afe Babalola as the only man in history who was able to establish a Private University at the age of 80 and was able to run and maintain it, seen it growing and becoming one of the best in the world. 

He listed some of his contributions to humanity to include several buildings he personally donated to many institutions such the University of Lagos, Ekiti State University, Federal University of Oye Ekiti, University of Ibadan, Federal Medical Centre in Ido Ekiti among many uncountable ones.

The former Ekiti Central Senator narrated how Aare Afe Babalola sold all his houses in Ibadan, Lagos, America and London and all his Companies to return to his hometown in Ado Ekiti to establish the Afe Babalola University which has been able to provide employment for many.

He also pointed out how Afe Babalola at close to 97 years, and knocking on the door of 100 years old, “still writes articles in a weekly columns in Tribune, Vanguard and This Day Newspapers. He also lectures at Afe Babalola University at his current age and attends to his legal practice by giving instructions to his lawyers in Ibadan, Abuja and other places where he has chambers. 

Continuing, he said, “On the 18th October, what do we do? All our guests from all over will gather at Ewi’s Palace in Ado Ekiti, where his citation would be read and speeches made. Goodwill Messages would also be made from several of those invited from the Federal level. 

“We are expecting the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to attend the Day being his allies and close friend. Also, Attorney Generals from the Country and many lawyers would also come. The Ooni of Ife and all the Obas from Ekiti State are also coming. 

“We are going to have over 500 convoy from his abode at Afe Babalola University to the Ewi of Ado palace.

‘We will also bring out our Masquerades, women, musicians, dancers, intellectuals and those in the academics would come out in their large numbers as well as the media to cover and report celebrations. The Ado Ekiti people are hopeful that once they celebrates him, Ekiti State as a whole would also follow suit”. 

Adding, he equally announced that all the markets in Ado Ekiti will be shutdown to enable the marketers participate fully in celebrating him.