Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola has established a transnational education centre for the less privileged in the society.
Babalola who revealed this in Ado Ekiti at the maiden Afe Babalola Day celebration, organised by Ewi-in-council in conjunction with Ado Progressive Union (APU) also announced the commencement of free ante-natal and a normal delivery programme for pregnant women christened “Afe Abiye.”
The Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe had declared October 18 Afe Babalola Day to be celebrated every year by the Ado Ekiti community in recognition of Babalola’s humanitarian services and contributions to the development of the society.
While addressing the people at the event held at Ewi’s place in Ado Ekiti, Babalola said he was challenged by the declaration of the day to assist underprivileged young people to learn and be able to study privately and earn degree without attending any higher institution.
“It is my pleasure to inform you today that in the realisation of the fact that education is the surest ladder to success and that there are many brilliant but financially handicapped young men and women around, I have in collaboration with the King’s College, London established the Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education where underprivileged but brilliant young people in the whole of Africa and beyond will be trained and obtain university degrees without going to any college or university.”
The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), who said he was bothered by how the people can overcome hunger, also floated two cooperative societies for Ado indigenes with N200 million.
He said, “There is no doubt that there is hunger in the land. This is because we consume more than we produce. It is not the duty of the government to produce and share food among citizens. I am worried and ashamed when I saw people queuing up for food. I have taken up the challenge due to my experience as a cooperative inspector.
“In Economics, I learnt that only a foolish man spends his money to do business. This is why any person who is knowledgeable about business goes to the bank to borrow money.
“I have incorporated two cooperative societies; one for men and one for women. Each of these two cooperative societies will be given N100 million today in bank draft to enable registered members to apply for loans to start his or her business.”
