ICONIC LEGAL LUMINARY, AARE AFE BABALOLA’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE BAR By: Prof Ojo Emmanuel ADEMOLA
By: Prof Ojo Emmanuel ADEMOLA
Sixty (60) is a life-time landmark, and it’s being glamorously and fashionably dubbed the DIAMOND milestone of attainment. With all emphasis, Diamond is outstandingly unique in its quality, value and possession. And so, it’s with my Kabiyesi (as I fondly address him), Mentor and Benefactor, the irrepressible Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR who clocked 60 years in the legal practice recently, standing out as a foremost iconic luminary in a field of all-seasons.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), ‘Kabiyesi’ Afe Babalola has made impacting and enormous contributions to Legal profession in a way that the practice is his whole life. Apart from being an entrepreneurial educationist and a highly successful farmer, Baba Afe Babalola has regenerated many accomplished Nigerian Lawyers through his Law Firms, Afe Babalola and Co (Emmanuel Chambers) established in 1965. He has relentlessly ensured that every lawyer-products of his remains the best notch of the field, and are equally successful in their endeavours. In this regard, one can make classical reference to the time-tested legal experts like Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), Olu Daramola (SAN), Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Tunde Babalola (SAN), Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), among others.
Ahead of his forays into the educational field in 2009 when he single-handedly established the now famous Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Nigeria ‘Kabiyesi’ had been the ‘best’ Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between 2001 and 2008. It’s not a surprise that his University (ABUAD) in 2013 was ranked the second best private University in Nigeria, and 17 of 136 Universities in Nigeria. Today, ABUAD has succeeded in producing first class graduates and global scholars of notes.
The first Nigerian Professor of Cyber Security and Information Technology Management, Prof. Ojo Emmanuel ADEMOLA was the Head, Department of Computer Science, ABUAD; Director of ICT; Provost, College of Science and also a Member, Board of Trustees (BOT). Prof Ademola is a respected and well-sort global expert in Cyber Security and Information Technology Management based in London, United Kingdom (UK). Ditto for many others in various fields of human endeavour.
Evidently, Baba Afe Babalola (‘Kabiyesi’) is worth being celebrated in all ramifications, and particularly in clocking the Diamond marks in his chosen legal profession.
At 94, ‘Kabiyesi’ is an enargia of accomplishments, godliness, selflessness and patriotism.
We pray for longer life for Baba, one that will be enjoyed in good health, prosperity and peace all around.
Sir, hearty congratulations on the occasion of your 60th anniversary in the BAR.
