Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has established a transnational education centre as a means of empowering the less-privileged in the society.
He also announced the commencement of free ante-natal and normal delivery programme for pregnant women christened ‘Afe Abiye’.
He spoke on Friday in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, at the maiden Afe Babalola Day celebration, organised by Ewi-in-Council in conjunction with Ado Progressive Union (APU).
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, had declared October 18 Afe Babalola Day to be celebrated every year by Ado Ekiti community in recognition of the renowned lawyer and philanthropist Babalola’s humanitarian services and contribution to he development of the society.
While addressing the people at the event held at Ewi’s place in Ado Ekiti, he said he was challenged by the declaration of the special day to assist or promote the under-privileged young people to learn from him as he was able to study privately and obtain degrees without attending any secondary or university.
“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 under privileged but brilliant young people in whole of Africa and beyond will be trained and obtain university degrees without going to any College or University,” he stated.
The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), who added that the initiative was how the people can overcome hunger, also floated two cooperative societies for Ado Ekiti 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 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, 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.
“This sum of N200 million will provide loan for 2,000 people at the my minimum rate of N100,000. Members will only pay 5% interest rate on the loan to the cooperative society as against over 20% to the bank,” he explained.
Dignitaries at the well attended event included Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his wife Olakemi; popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN; Ado Ekiti sons and daughters from across the globe.
