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Tag: Afe Babalola

  • Afe Babalola opens up on Ekiti cargo airport

    Afe Babalola opens up on Ekiti cargo airport

    Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has described the Federal Government’s approval of an agro-allied cargo airport in Ekiti as the best thing to happen to the state in the outgoing year 2024.

    It would be recalled that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently granted license to the Ekiti state government to commence non-scheduled flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport for six months, from Dec. 13, to June 15, 2025.

    Babalola said this after receiving a letter of appreciation from Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti for his role in the realisation of the airport project, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

    The founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) said that the development was a good beginning, stressing  “if things had been like these some three years ago, Ekiti would not  be where it is today.

    ”I thank Your Excellency for your commitment to this airport project. I thank you for all you have been doing, and still doing. Without a viable and functional transportation system, a state, a country is doomed.

    ”When America was discovered, there were no roads, but gradually and eventually, the whole area was tarred, and the whole area evolved to becoming a state (country) that is a clear leader in the comity of nations today,” he said.

    Babalola said that a major constraint to people coming to Ekiti was due to bad road network.

    ”As a matter of fact, many organisations that promised to come and invest in Ekiti State cannot actualise their dream because the state is land-locked, airport-locked, railway-locked and industry-locked.

    “But all is now beginning to change, and it will change to the advantage of all of us.

    “With this airport, there will be many job opportunities for our people. People coming, in and out of the state, will buy from our various markets,” he said.

    The ABUAD founder assured the governor of the support of the people to make Ekiti one of the best and safest states to operate and invest in the country.

    “We will support you in all ways,” Babalola said.

    The letter, titled: “Letter of Appreciation”, and dated December 18, was personally delivered to Babalola at the ABUAD campus by the governor on Thursday.

    The letter reads: “On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I am delighted to formally express our heartfelt appreciation to you sir, for the assistance you provided to the Ekiti State Government, during the construction of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.

    “I am delighted to inform you that on 11th  December, 2024, we obtained clearance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to commence non-scheduled flight operations for 6 months from 13 December 2024 to 15 June 2025.

    “Your financial contribution for the purchase of navigational aids (CVOR/DME), control tower communications equipment, and the construction of the car pack, was invaluable to the accomplishment, and we are immensely grateful for your willingness to help

    “Sir, I wish to notify you that the NCAA has outlined conditions for the actualisation of the full commercial flight operation status, which includes installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS), to enhance the flight operational capacity of the airport and we will count on your unflinching support.

    “Once again, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to our shared passion and goals of development and prosperity for our dear Ekiti State.

    ”You are highly appreciated sir, and please accept the assurances of my best wishes, as always.”

  • Afe Babalola and many things most Nigerians don’t know – By Owei Lakemfa

    Afe Babalola and many things most Nigerians don’t know – By Owei Lakemfa

    The Minister  of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Digyadi, does not appear to have any idea why the Ministry exists. It is also possible that the Tinubu administration that appointed him has no clue why we have a ministry that takes care of both labour and employment.

    The Ministry was created 85 years ago. The unemployed registered with it in employment  exchange locations  which helped secure employment.  Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, one of the most cerebral Permanent Secretaries in our history, transformed this exchange into the Nigerian Electronic Labour Exchange.  After independence, the Ministry also sent Nigerian labour to countries like Equatorial Guinea.  Until today, under the Labour Act, it is the Ministry that issues recruiters licence.

    It also created jobs and trained the unemployed in  various skills to enable them become self-employed and employable.  The Ministry has an arm, the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, with the motto: JOBS FOR ALL. The NDE which receives annual budgetary provisions, states that its primary objectives are “…providing  sustainable employment opportunities for Nigerians (and) creating  opportunities for sustainable  employment through  various programmes.” Specifically, under the Ministerial supervision  of  Digyadi, the NDE on its official site states that in line with President Tinubu’s Re-newed Hope Agenda, it is strengthening “…its role  in combating  poverty by providing sustainable employment opportunities  for Nigerians.”

    So, you can imagine the shock when Minister Digyadi declared on November 28, 2024 that job creation is not part of the Ministry’s mandate. He told  Nigerians: “You will agree with me that the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is never to give employment to people…As you are aware, the Ministry is not there to provide employment, because the former Minister of Youths and Sports (Sunday Dare), before he left, was asking me to give him jobs. I said we only create the environment for jobs. We don’t give jobs.”

    It is clear Minister Digyadi is not conversant with the mandate of the Ministry. If he was not given the correct orientation,  it might mean that the Tinubu administration does not know better. As it is, the Ministry is a bird flying with one wing. Also, what many Nigerians may not know is that their elites have turned basic economics upside down, forcing it to walk on its head.   For instance, economics teaches that the  basic factors for siting an industry includes availability or proximity of raw materials, land, water, labour, capital, power, transportation and nearness to market.  All these factors are in favour of the Dangote Refinery.

    Also, compared to foreign refineries, it sources local crude and, does not need to pay for freight, insurance, cargo discharge,  demurrage, storage,   port fees, NIMASA charges and Custom duties. Additionally, it has other derivatives from the crude it processes, including gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils and bitumen.

    Given these objective factors, the cost of a litre of locally produced fuel should be quite cheap. But  it is an average N1,100 compared to, say, war-torn Libya which is N50 per litre. The Nigerian cost is so  high that imported fuel is far cheaper. The Dangote refinery,  afraid that Nigerians would, naturally, buy the cheaper imported fuel,  went to  court  demanding that  the  licenses  issued to six private oil companies to  import fuel must be voided. Even when the NNPC claims that the public-owned Port Harcourt Refinery is now functional, its price range is same as Dangote which gives the impression that there is a price-fixing cartel at work.

    Nigerians also do not know the exact shares they own in the Dangote refinery nor understand the role of the Tinubu administration. For instance, in July, 2024, it  instructed the NNPC  to engage Dangote  and other local refineries and  resolve their disputes, including selling crude to them in Naira.  Then some weeks later, the same administration issued a statement stating that  the: “PMS regime, has been deregulated. Dangote is a private company. NNPCL should not forget it’s a limited liability company. Whatever controversy both of them are having is their problem…It’s the consumer who benefits if a price war starts, if NNPC fuel is too much, the public market can go to the market and bring in their fuel and sell at the price that they think is very reasonable and profitable for them.” So, many Nigerians do not know if the Tinubu government is  for or against intervention.

    There are  also cobwebs surrounding the claims by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, that a younger lawyer, Dele Farotimi, defamed him in a book on the judiciary. For this, the police had invaded Farotim’s chambers, assaulted his staff, threatened two of his lawyers with guns and, virtually abducted the lawyer. Farotimi was first dragged in handcuffs before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, Chief Babalola’s hometown where he is so powerful that a special Afe Babalola Day has been reserved annually to honour him. The Magistrate denied Farotimi bail.

    Later,  Inspector General of Police Kayode Egebtokun had Farotimi brought from prison to an high court to face new charges, this time for alleged  cybercrimes. Bail was granted in this case which Farotimi has not  perfected.  Then while still being held in prison, Babalola and his supporters  hauled Farotimi before courts in Abuja, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. The Babalola Chambers  additionally, petitioned  the Legal Practitioners  Disciplinary Committee  to remove Farotimi from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.  In all these, Chief Babalola refused to learn from  a younger  lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, who when confronted with serious defamation, took out a civil suit rather than employ the repressive  state apparatus against his accuser.

    The Babalola-Farotimi drama reminds me of a story I was told as a child.  Early one morning, villagers, on their way to farm and market, found the parrot   tied in front of his in-law’s house. They were told the parrot had been gossiping and making   disparaging comments against his in-law. Almost all blamed the parrot for his predicament. When they were returning in the evening, the villagers found that the parrot not only remained tied, but had now been put in a cage.

    This time, they condemned the in-law for subjecting the parrot to torture and unbearable pain. They reminded the in-law  of a Yoruba saying that: “Aseju ni Baba asete”: meaning that excessive behaviour  or, anything done in excess, ultimately leads to disgrace.  They  said the fact that he seeks to make  his case does not mean he should exhaust all the saliva  in his mouth.

    The villagers  reminded him that if people beg  the heavenly Egungun  masquerade, he listens, if they beg the Orisha god, he listens and if they beg God  Almighty, he forgives; so, who is he, a mere mortal to insist on a pound of flesh?

  • Farotimi speaks on asking Peter Obi to beg Afe Babalola on his behalf

    Farotimi speaks on asking Peter Obi to beg Afe Babalola on his behalf

    A lawyer representing embattled human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Tope Temokun, has stated  that his client did not ask the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP) Peter Obi, to plead to the octogenarian legal icon, Afe Babalola, regarding an alleged defamation suit.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) recall that Farotimi is currently being detained in the Correctional Center on an allegation of defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola.

    In a bid to mediate, the former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, paid a visit to Afe Babalola, with sources suggesting that the visit was to make a plea on behalf of Farotimi.

    However, speaking on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Temokun disclosed that that during a prison visit on Friday, Farotimi denied asking Peter Obi to appeal to Afe Babalola or seek an out-of-court settlement.

    He said, “I visited Mr Dele Farotimi in a correctional service in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday afternoon.

    “The events of the recent days; the visit of Mr Peter Obi, the (2023) presidential candidate of the Labour Party, to Aare Afe Babalola; his visit to Mr Dele Farotimi, created some lack of clarity; people are not so clear about some things; people are not clear about what is going on. It is based on this that I had to visit him yesterday, and we sat together and had a good discussion.

    “After Peter Obi left Ekiti, the news that filtered through the town to the issue of the conditions for release, the issue of apology, the issue of whether Mr Dele Farotimi can do this or that to come out.

    “I told him (Farotimi): the reason why I am here is to confirm from you, ‘What do you think should be done?’ The visit of Mr Peter Obi to you in person and the subsequent visit to Aare Afe Babalola: What do you know about it? What is your message to Aare Afe Babalola? What is your message to the people outside? What is also your message to me as part of your legal team?

    “He (Farotimi) said if anybody who is very familiar with his antecedents, with his principles, with his philosophy over time should join anybody to believe that in a matter where he had written a book that he had published and that had been in circulation, that if anybody, somebody who has a brain should join others to believe that he has sent anybody to beg anybody, he said he will be so disappointed in that person.

    “He told me categorically that even you, Tope, if you join anybody to believe that I could beg anybody or that I have sent anybody to beg anybody, I will be so disappointed in you.”

  • Afe Babalola files fresh petition seeking Dele Farotimi’s removal from Nigerian bar

    Afe Babalola files fresh petition seeking Dele Farotimi’s removal from Nigerian bar

    The law firm of Afe Babalola has submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) requesting  the removal of Dele Farotimi, from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.

    The petition accuses Farotimi of breaching rules of professional conduct rules governing lawyers. The 90-page document, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm.

    Notably,  Faro was also referenced in Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”

    The petition was titled “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian bar with his name on the roll of legal practitioners kept by the Supreme Court for violation of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners Rules 1, 15(1), 15(2b), 15(3a), 15(3g), 15(3i), 15(3j), 26(1), 27(1), 30, 31(1), (2) and (4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023 by bringing the entire judiciary in Nigeria into disrepute with his unfounded allegations of corruption against eminent justices of the supreme court of Nigeria, judges of high court of Lagos state, Aare Afe Babalola san, Olu Deramola, SAN, Ola Faro esq, and the entire chambers of Afe Babalola & co in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system.”

    Faro, who clarified that he was writing both in his capacity and “on behalf of the law firm of Afe Babalola & Co.”, outlined the case’s background and detailed the alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct by Farotimi.

    According to the petition, the popular human lawyer was accused of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner by making false accusations against the Supreme Court and the legal profession.

    The petitioners further alleged that Farotimi participated in unlawful conduct by bribing judicial officers and gaining illegal access to a judicial officer.

    Faro stated, “He joined his clients in committing misconduct and breach of law with reference to judicial officers by having unlawful access to a judicial officer. He gave service to his client which he knows is capable of causing a breach of law and disrespect and corrupting a judicial officer. He knowingly made a false statement of law and facts with respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court.

  • Real reason Dele Farotimi is being held in Ekiti

    Real reason Dele Farotimi is being held in Ekiti

    A magistrate’s court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, refused the bail application of human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, and ordered that he be remanded in the Correctional Centre.

    Recall that the defendant was on Monday granted bail in another case of cyberbullying and defamation before a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti. The court admitted Farotimi to bail in the sum of N50 million, and a surety in like sum.

    Farotimi is facing charges of defamation of Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in his book, titled, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”.

    The court adjourned the case till December 20, to again hear the bail application of the defendant.

    Earlier, the police counsel, Samson Osobu during the proceeding submitted that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), under the law, could not represent a defendant at the Magistrate’s Court.

    This came, as Mr Osubu, opposed the appearance of Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka SAN for the defence of Farotimi at the Ado Magistrate’s Court.

    He cited the recent judgement of a court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, delivered on July 16, where the court ruled that a SAN could not appear before the magistrate court.

    However, Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka SAN, explained that the Ekiti Magistrate Court Law, enacted by the state House of Assembly, allowed lawyers, irrespective of status and title, to appear in the court, especially in criminal matters as it related to the suit against the defendant.

    He urged the court to reject the argument of the prosecution lawyer, noting that the judgment cited, might not have put into considerations, all magistrate court laws across the country.

    Responding on the matter, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun said he would step down his ruling on the matter, in order for him to read the judgment, cited by the prosecutor.

    He consequently ordered the Senior Advocate of Nigeria to step down, and allow the most senior lawyer in the defendant’s team, to continue the case, pending his ruling on the matter.

    A lawyer, Taiwo Adedeji, subsequently took over the case from Fasuka as the legal representative of Farotimi.

  • Sowore knocks Peter Obi for going to Ekiti to ‘beg’ Afe Babalola on behalf of Dele Farotimi

    Sowore knocks Peter Obi for going to Ekiti to ‘beg’ Afe Babalola on behalf of Dele Farotimi

    The 2023 presidential candidate of the Action Alliance Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has slammed former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi,  for meeting with Nigerian Senior Advocate, Afe Babalola, SAN, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) understands that the former governor of Anambra State met with the Nigerian legal luminary on Monday concerning human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, currently at the Ekiti prison.

    Social activist, Moses Paul, who shared video and photos of the visit via his X handle, said Peter Obi and Afe Babalola reportedly had in-depth discussions, including on Farotimi’s matter.

    Moses wrote, “Today, Mr. @PeterObi travelled from Lagos to Ekiti State, dedicating the entire day to meaningful engagements. He visited Aare Afe Babalola at his office within the Afe Babalola University, where they had in-depth discussions on critical issues, including the situation of activists and lawyer @DeleFarotimi.

    “Following this, Mr. @PeterObi proceeded to the prison facility where @DeleFarotimi is being held. In a private meeting, he expressed solidarity and engaged in a candid exchange aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges.”

    Sources also at the meeting confirmed that Peter Obi begged Afe Babalola on behalf of Farotimi.

    In reacting to the development, Sowore via his Facebook page on Monday criticised the former Anambra governor for begging Afe Babalola regarding the unjust detention of the popular human activist.

    According to Sowore, the LP candidate have committed a despicable injustice in the fight against judicial corruption in our country.

    He wrote: “I strongly condemn those who went to ”beg” Chief Afe Bablola today regarding the unjust detention and persecution of Dele Farotimi. The delegation led by Mr Peter Obi has committed an unspeakable and despicable injustice in the fight against judicial corruption in our country. Obi’s action feels like forcing Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus(of raical injustice) during the Civil Rights era in the United States. The struggle continues.”

  • Economic woes causing untold hardship on lawyers – Afe Babalola

    Economic woes causing untold hardship on lawyers – Afe Babalola

    Aare Afe Babalola, a senior lawyer and the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has describe as worrisome the effect of economic hardship on many especially lawyers in the country.

    Babalola made his position known on Tuesday during the 13th edition of the Annual Aare Afe Babalola Public Bar Lecture, instituted by Ado-Ekiti branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in honour of legal icon.

    He expressed regrets that the economy of the country had been badly battered so much that lawyers, who were known to be comfortable financially before, are now living below subsistence level.

    He said, “This is more apparent in states that are landlocked, where most of the people rely on agriculture for business. Lack of modern transportation system, deplorable roads, lack of electricity for business have also compounded the matter, the more.

    “Today, those who believe in giving are less than those who want to receive. Farmers who want to plant are less than those who want to eat. Those who want to invest are far less than those who want to consume. Those who want to produce are less than those who want to consume.

    “Those who want to establish businesses are less than those who are seeking for employment. Those who want to engage in politics are more than those who want to work on their own. No wonder politics has become the most lucrative business in town today.

    “Lawyers who want to go to the Bench nowadays are more than those who want to remain in practice. Lawyers who insist on consultation fees are less than those who insist on the time-honoured practice.”

    In his lecture titled, ‘The Judiciary, yesterday, today and tomorrow’, the Provost, College of Law at ABUAD, Prof. Tunde Yebisi has advocated that the remuneration of judges, including those of inferior courts of records must be adequate and progressively increased to always be at par with those of the president, governors, and other State actors.

    Prof. Yebisi advised that such remuneration should be a continuous charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and disbursed, directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He said instead of using serving judges, retired judges, or respectable lawyers, preferably Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SANs) should henceforth constitute judges of electoral panels, to reduce incidences of coerce, intimidation, bribery and corruption, as well as keep the few judges available, in functional service

    Yebisi added there was currently a death of judges in the nation’s courts, saying many one should be employed, while the few ones available should be put into effective use, so as to also tackle cases of delay in the administration of of justice.

    “The senior members of the Bar, especially those who are young should be encouraged to join the bench, while modern IT facilities should be installed in the courts to facilitate quick dispensation of justice.

    “Apart from encouraging or expanding the jurisdiction of the inferior courts to handle small claims, it is advised that not all cases should go beyond the Court of Appeal, and sometimes, the High Court.”

    Continuing he said when judicial officers complained of attempts to bribe them, as was the case with the Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal in Kano, such complaints should be thoroughly proved, and appropriate sanctions, imposed

    “In addition, assets declared by persons holding public officers should be taken more serious, and claims, meticulously investigated.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ado -Ekiti Branch, Lawrence Fasanmi said Babalola’s immense contributions to the promotion of legal education and practice in the country, warranted the honour of the annual lecture, instituted during the administration of one of his predecessors, Owoseni Ajayi.

    Chairman of the occasion and royal father of the day, who doubles as Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, commended the farsightedness of the NBA, in instituting the annual lecture in honour of Babalola, who he described as a leading light in the nation’s legal field.

    He said the celebrator’s torrents of accomplishments in law, and his myrads of contributions to various NBA branches across the country, never made him to regret being motivated to train one of his children to become a lawyer.

  • Nonagenarian, Afe Babalola emerges African man of the year

    Nonagenarian, Afe Babalola emerges African man of the year

    Renowned farmer, Chief Afe Babalola has beaten nine other nominees across Sub-Saharan Africa to emerge the 2023 African man of the year in food security.

    The conferment of the award on the nonagenarian legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), was by the Global Food Security Committee of the Initiative For Green Sustainability.

    The Award Committee Lead, Tim Grunguis, and Country Director, Caleb Osasona, who signed the letter, said Babalola defeated nine other leading African farmer nominees from Bostwana, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda, Zambia and Liberia.

    Briefing journalists at a news conference, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, Babalola, reputed to be one of the leading farmers in Nigeria, and the largest single farmer in his home State, Ekiti, and second largest employer of labour after the state government, said he was elated by the conferment of the award.

    He said the award would spur him to do more in his singular efforts, aimed at  returning agriculture to its rightful place, and lift it to the expected destination of competitive revenue earner.

    The letter explained that the choice of Babalola was based on his many radical revolutions in agriculture and include ABUAD Bio-Diversified Farms, and granting of millions of Naira under the Afe Babalola Annual Agricultural Grants to hundreds of farmers.

    Others are ABUAD Talent Discovery Center, ABUAD Planetarium, ABUAD Industrial Pack that houses over 132 Farm Industries and ABUAD FM Radio among several others.

    ”As part of my resolve to encourage agriculture among Nigerians, especially youths, I reduced school fees of students in my university studying agriculture by 50 per cent.

    “In addition, I give a seed money of N250,000 to every graduate in agriculture.

    ”At the same time, in the last ten years, I have been organizing the Annual Agric Festival in Ado-Ekiti, with the best farmer in the state going home with N2million, while others that came behind them, getting their own lump, in millions as well,” Babalola said.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to tow his line of Agric revolution, by commencing the process of reviving all moribund farm settlements across the country.

    The pro chancellor of ABUAD said that revamping the moribund farm settlements in different regions of the country, would boost food security, agricultural production for local consumption, as well boost export and provide raw materials for industries.

    According to him, this would also create job opportunities for the unemployed youths in the countryz and the level of insecurity reduced to barest minimum as they would be gainfully engaged.

    Equally, he advised that governments at all levels should introduce agriculture into all levels of schools from primary to university, ensure that all allocations to local governments go to them directly, and not through their respective governors.

    Babalola also advised the Federal Government, Federal Government to consider giving national honours to successful farmers and promoters of farming, and not only to politicians.

    He recalled how the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as premier of the defunct Western Region, made use of the farm settlements in the region to promote its economy.

    Babalola said that the revival of the farm settlements should be passionately considered as springboard to rediscover the country’s dying agricultural potential as the future of Nigeria lies in agriculture and not in crude oil.

    He said Nigeria, which used to be one of the leading exporters of cocoa and palm oil, has lost its place, due to neglect of the sector.

    “It may not be crime to abandon agriculture but it is certainly a sin. Don’t forget, the place of the Garden of Eden, placed under Adam and Eve in Book of Genesis. This is a divine instruction that man must work and provide for whatever he needs,” Babalola said.

    He also called for increased annual budgetary allocations to the agriculture sector, saying it had had potential to lead millions of Nigerians out of poverty and provide food security.

    The  PRO-Chancellor  equally stressed that the government must as a matter of urgency, implement sustainable policies, and provide modern farm implements, improved  seedlings and soft loans, to make agriculture more attractive so that the youths would develop interest in it.

  • I wish to reincarnate as a farmer – Afe Babalola

    I wish to reincarnate as a farmer – Afe Babalola

    Elder Statesman and legal icon,  Afe Babalola, on Thursday said if there was anything called life after life, his prayer would be to return to life as a farmer.

    The 94-Year Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), expressed this view at the opening ceremony of the 2023 annual edition of Afe Babalola Agric Expo, (ABAEX-2023) in Ado-Ekiti.

    He described farming as the most profitable and energy charging profession if well pursued.

    Babalola instituted ABAEX eight years ago to give millions of naira annual cash reward and tools as well as encourage more farmers’ to participate in food production.

    “If  I am to come back to this world, and asked what I love to do, I will pray to return to life as a farmer, and not as anything else; farming is an act of God;  farming is of God; it is the only profession identified with creation.

    “Any country that has genuine interest in growth and development must first embrace farming, ditto the citizens.

    “Aside being a major source of employment generation, farming varnishes hunger and discourages laziness and stealing in any form.

    “Those who started acts of corruption in Nigeria are not farmers but educated people who are invariably public officers.

    “ An average farmer is known to be hardworking, contented and perseverance.

    “People say I am a successful lawyer and wonder why I should have anything to do with farming, but I tell them, I will continue to identify with farming because I grew up with it and enjoyed it.

    “ It may surprise many Nigerians that there is nothing we consume in my home that I buy from market; I grow them and I am proud of that; if many others can emulate me, Nigeria will be better for it,” he said.

    He called on all tiers of government, especially Federal Government to focus more on agriculture, right from the grassroots, and through the local government councils, while every individual, no matter their profession, should also embrace farming.

    “Farming is best done at the local government level, and by extension, the grassroots; this is why I am again calling on the Federal Government to allocate local government funds to them directly, and not through state governments, many of which often divert such funds,” he added.

    He said he had established Industrial park in ABUAD which accommodates over 100 industries to further boost food production.

    According to him, the industrial park will buy farm products like mornings, rice, maize and others, direct from farmers, so as to put a stop to incidences of wastage and economic losses on the part of farmers.

    Babalola promised to continue to invest his money and everything humanly possible in Agriculture, and lift as many farmers that showed interest, until Nigeria had a change of attitude in that regard.

    Speaking earlier, the Local Organisng Committee, (LOC) Chairman of ABAEX- -2023, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, explained that the agricultural revolutionary vision of Babalola was to transform Ekiti into a prosperous society, through agricultural rejuvenation of farmers with financial support.

    He said ABAEX programme provided agricultural extension services to the farmers  to evaluate  their farms for productivity yields in large scale.

    Ojo said that that the programme was implemented in all the local government areas of the state, adding the sum of N32 million had so far been committed to 2023 edition.

    In her welcome address, the ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samaranda Ayorinde, said the institution was doing as much to promote agriculture in diverse ways with huge investment in the country.

  • Ajulo, Falana’s wife, Afe Babalola’s daughter others make SAN’s list

    Ajulo, Falana’s wife, Afe Babalola’s daughter others make SAN’s list

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer, and others have been shortlisted among the senior lawyers who made the list to be considered for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    This is contained in the lists released by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Also on the 69-man shortlist include Funmi,  wife of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Mrs. Folashade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, and Bomo Agbebi.

    On the list are Daniel Uruakpa, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie amongst others.

    “The LPPC by this notice announced the shortlisting of Applicants who qualified after the Advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic pre-qualification, and Academic 2nd filtration Exercise

    “Also after the Independent Appeals Hearing and Chambers Inspection Exercise, preparatory to the interview stage in the process for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the successful Applicants for the year 2023.

    “All qualified shortlisted Applicants are graded under two-category systems by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, namely Advocates and Academic Applicants respectively,” LPPC stated.

    Ajulo who made the list of the shortlisted senior lawyers is a right activist and an acclaimed legal expert and advocate renowned for his extensive knowledge and activism in various areas of law.

    This include litigation, constitutional law, corporate and commercial law, and human rights.

    Ajulo obtained his first law degree from the University of Jos in Nigeria and subsequently pursued further education at various international institutions.

    He currently serves as a research scholar at Lincoln University College and volunteers his expertise as an adjunct lecturer at several universities, including his home State institution, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State.

    Ajulo’s remarkable contributions have earned him numerous awards and honors, including Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) which was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.