Group Wants Oyebanji to Declare ‘Afe Babalola Day’, Public Holiday

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

A group, under the aegis of “Ekiti Youths Home Based” (EYHB), has called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to immortalise the legal icon, Afe Babalola while still alive, by declaring a particular day of every year as ‘Afe Babalola Day’, and also declare the day, as work-free, in his honour.

The group in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and made available to newsmen by it’s convener, Ademola Adedayo yesterday, said the call had become necessary, in view of Babalola’s “unmatched contributions to the growth and development of the state”.

Babafemi Ojudu, a renown journalist and politician, had in about a week ago listed Babalola’s extraordinary life and contributions to education, law, and various sectors in the state as compelling reasons why the state government should declare a day as “Afe Babalola’s day” in the state in his Honour.

According to the EYHB statement, Babalola deserved to be honoured with such a special day, considering the good name, as well as reputation he had continually brought to Ekiti in years past.

It said apart from playing prominent roles in the creation of the state in 1996, Babalola had over the years, remained the highest tax payer in the state, as well as largest single farmer, and also the largest employer of labour, after the state government.

” We are proud to note that Afe Babalola has dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity, and has been a trailblazer in promoting education, and empowering the youths in vocations and agriculture”, the statement said.

The statement added that Babalola had also succeeded in helping government to reduce high rate of unemployment in the state and country, through his many investments.

It said Babalola particularly drew the world attention to the name of Ekiti, through the establishment of his world-class Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD).

Besides, the statement noted that Babalola is a leading Nigerian philanthropist, whose benevolent activities to individuals, corporate bodies, associations and institutions, are legendary and unrivalled.

Babalola, who will attain the age of 95 on October 30, 2024, was called to the English bar in 1963 after years of self/private education, and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1987.

He is reputed for raising the standard of legal profession in the country, and grooming generation of topflight lawyers that continue to carry on his legacy.

His law firm, Emmanuel Chambers is also  rated as having produced the highest number of SAN’s, Judges and legal professors, among them, the current Minister of Justice and Attorney -General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.