Ekiti state tate Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, was full of lavish praises for the elder statesman and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, for his altruistic gesture of committing his hard-earned $1.6 million and N356,795,039.18 towards the completion of Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport which commenced commercial operations on December 10, 2025.
Babalola’s intervention is made up of his direct donation of the Navigational Aids (CVOR/DME) and Control Tower equipment worth $1.6 million and his building the 100-car capacity Car Park, directly opposite the Terminal Building, at a cost of N356,795,039.18
Speaking at the inaugural commercial flight into the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport on December 10, 2025, which was witnessed by the the crème-de-la-crème of the society made up of Governors, Ministers, Aviators, Politicians, Administrators, the Clergy and members of the Bar and Bench as well Royalty, Oyebanji commended Babalola, one of the founding fathers of Ekiti State, for what he described as his “selflessness, generosity and unflinching fatherly support to the Airport project and Ekiti State generally”.
In his words: “It is on record that Aare Afe Babalola has been the highest taxpayer since the creation of the state in 1996 and also the largest employer of labour after the State Government”.
Governor Oyebanji equally commended three of his predecessors, Engr. Segun Oni, “who first conceived the idea, Governor Ayo Fayose who acquired and initially cleared the site and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who despite all odds, braved the wind of challenges to the building of this Airport six years ago”
He thanked all the stakeholders for the completion and commencement of commercial flights at the Airport to which Ekiti State Government has committed N49. 8 billion, a development which he stressed will obviate the previous practice of “people having to travel long distances, facing high costs and risks before reaching the markets that could benefit us and benefit from us”.
He added: “Today, that challenge is turning to an opportunity with the commencement of commercial operations from Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. With this Airport, we are bringing the markets closer to our people and the world closer to Ekiti.
I therefore urge our people to seize the opportunities that air connectivity brings and tap into the unimaginable economic potential that the Aviation sector can bring about.
“I must however specially thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his strong support that enables us to finance this project to completion, my immediate predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for his relentless courage and determination and Aare Afe Babalola for his huge financial and moral support. Without this trio, this project would have remained in the pipe dream”.
Babalola’s interest in having an Airport in Ekiti State Dated back to sometimes in 2007 when he was contacted by a West Indian lady, Yeye Alikimali Funua, who requested him to build a Heritage Library in Adeyipo Village, 9 miles from Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital. He agreed and I put up a beautiful structure for her.
At the commissioning of the Heritage Library on December 20, 2007, the Community leaders requested that Babalola should build a University around the Heritage Library with a promise to donate 2,000 hectares of land for the purpose. A visibly impressed Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala who was present at the ceremony supported the project with other mouth-watering and irresistible promises such as free supply of water, electricity and construction of access roads.
Because of the wide publicity that greeted the commissioning the following day in virtually all the newspapers in the country, the then Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni, a decent, incorruptible, patriotic and highly gifted man, went to meet the former Pro Chancellor of the University of Lagos in Ibadan, fervently pleading that he should site the university in Ekiti, with promises similar to those of his Oyo State counterpart, in order to enhance and speed up the development of Ekiti State. He told Engr. Oni that he would give it a thought.
About a week after the first visit, Governor Oni went to meet him in Ibadan again. This time around, he came with some Ekiti Traditional Rulers, and they pleaded that Babalola should site the University in Ekiti. He agreed to relocate the university from Ibadan to Ado-Ekiti on the condition that Ekiti State Government will also provide free land, roads, electricity and water as promised by the then Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State.
In addition, he informed the team that visited him in Ibadan that Ekiti was land-locked unlike Ibadan. he demanded that the Federal Government should be persuaded to construct an Airport in Ekiti State. They all agreed.
Engr. Segun Oni, as the Governor of Ekiti State, approached the then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to approve an Airport for Ekiti State. The President obliged by approving an Airport for Ekiti State alongside those in Delta, Bayelsa and Gombe States.
To actualize his promise, President Jonathan approved a take-off fund of N680 million. Unfortunately, Dr. Kayode Fayemi succeeded in a petition he filed at the Election Tribunal against Engr. Segun Oni and he (Engr. Oni) left office as the Governor of Ekiti State.
Whereas the Airports in Delta, Bayelsa and Gombe States have since been completed and functional, that of Ekiti State did not become a reality until December 10, 2025.
In his Goodwill Message on the occasion, Babalola glorified the Almighty God that the commencement of commercial operations at the Airport is taking place in his lifetime. He equally extended gratitude to everyone who played a role in ensuring the reality of the Airport dream.
Represented by ABUAD’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, Babalola reminded the Federal Government that in addition to the Ekiti Cargo Airport, there is an urgent need to open the state up by ensuring that a Railway system which should start from Osogbo and should run through Ado-Ekiti, Akure in Ondo State and further to Onitsha in Eastern Nigeria.
In his words: “The rationale is clear: to provide a faster, safer and more affordable means of transporting goods and people, especially in a modern economy”.
He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of the state and its people, adding that this dedication will endure while he remains fully prepared to continue offering support to the state in every way humanly possible.
He Chairman/CEO of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, for being the first Airline Operator to commence scheduled commercial flights in the state on December 10, 2025.
He congratulated Ekiti State Government, the Governor, the good people of Ekiti State the Aviation Partner as well as everyone that contributed to the remarkable success story.
Babalola prayed that Airport would usher in a new era of growth, opportunity and global connectivity for Ekiti State and for Nigeria.