By: Tunde Olofintila
It was torrents of praises, commendations and thunderous ovation for the elder statesman and legal icon, Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN, LL. D (London), Fellow, King’s College, London, FNAE, as he was formally decorated with the ‘Role Model Award’ over the weekend by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation, HLF, in appreciation of his stellar contributions in the country’s educational landscape.
The HLF Award came 16 days after Babalola, the Founder & Chancellor of the increasingly famous Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, was decorated as “The 2026 Icon Man of the Year Award” by Triangle News International at a well-attended award ceremony at King’s College, London on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Represented by two of his children, Dr. Folasade Alli, SAN, and Mr. George Olatunde Babalola, SAN, Babalola, at the weekend event, Babalola was effusively praised for what the HLF acknowledged as his unrivalled love for quality, functional and impactful education as well as immeasurable investment in the sector.
Presenting the Award, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a seasoned University Administrator and Member, Board of Trustees of Hallmarks of Labour Foundation, HLF, acknowledged the fact that the Award Recipient’s University, ABUAD, had become a model of private university education in Nigeria, going by its baffling records in its 16 of existence.
His words: “The way the university was constructed is amazing. When I saw the circular roads with the classroom areas, libraries and laboratories located in the inner circle and the facilities such as Hostels and Cafeterias located in the outer circle, I immediately concluded that this is a students’ friendly university where students don’t have to labour unnecessarily unlike what obtains in many of the older universities where students have to walk for several kilometers to access their lectures”,
Tomori commended Babalola, a former Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, for the palpable discipline he has instilled in the students which manifests in their dressing and the way they extend courtesies to people, adding that the major problem confronting the Nation Nigeria is indiscipline.
The former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science was optimistic that with what he saw in ABUAD students, there is hope for the country in the nearest future.
He commended Babalola for what he described as step-by-step development of the university which commenced Academic works on Monday, January 4, 2010 but now has more than 10,000 students from the 36 states of the Federation, including the FCT, as well as some foreign students thereby reinventing the practice in those days where the likes of the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and the University of Lagos were like mini United Nations with students and lecturers from all over Africa, Europe and America.
Besides, he described Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) as the real beacon of hope and model for private university education in Nigeria and Africa at large.
He noted that the renowned lawyer’s commitment to creating a world-class institution in Nigeria is worth celebrating, especially with the establishment of ABUAD, founded on integrity, discipline, innovation and service.
He explained that the University’s consistent record of unbroken academic calendar since it commenced Academic works on Monday, January 4, 20210, quality teaching and global partnerships, reflected a disciplined system that aligned with the long-term vision for a revitalized education sector.
He noted that the Institution’s rise to global recognition within a short time is highly commendable, especially with the remarkable milestone achieved in 16 years through academic excellence, infrastructure development, research and community service.
According to him, Babalola, in character, resembles the late nationalist and pioneer Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, in all ramifications of life, especially when it comes to issue of excellence, stressing that Awolowo was selfless, and always sought after the progress and development of the South-West Region and Nigeria in general during his lifetime.
His words: “Just like Awolowo, Baba Afe Babalola believes so much in hard work, integrity and service to one’s nation.
“Nobody can adequately celebrate Baba Afe Babalola enough. He has never been compromised or found wanting for any negative reasons, and he is one of the few living legends in Nigeria”, Tomori said.
Responding, Babalola who traced his success in life to his early sojourn on his father’s farm at Alayegbe, seven mile away from the city centre, where discipline and extreme hard work were the indices of life, appreciated the Hallmark of Labour Foundation for appreciating his modest contributions to humanity, especially in education, with the overall aim of leaving the society better than he had met it over nine decades ago.
He said his unimpressive experience concerning the falling standards of education in Nigeria, particularly ding his seven-year stint as the Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, promoted him to conceptualize the idea of establishing ABUAD to institutionalize quality, functional and impactful education, raise a new generation of leaders and teach Nigerians how a university properly so-called should be run.
“My determination to get the model university on board made me sell most of my properties, especially houses at home and abroad, to get the university running. Today therefore, if anybody asks me if I am a fulfilled person, my ready answer will be yes, I am a fulfilled person”, Babalola said.
Some notable recipients of the prize in the past are Prof. Adeoye Lambo, Lt.-Gen TY Danjuma, GCON, Her Excellency, Amina J. Mohammed, GCON, Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Prof. Liasu Adele Jinadu, Prof. Kalu Moses Onuoha, Prf. Olufemi Oladipo Adelowo and Prof. Babatunde Ibitayo Alo as well as Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi among several others.