“The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, which he built, is not only classrooms, but a citadel of discipline, excellence, and vision. He is that farmer who planted knowledge, the advocate who defended truth, the patriot who built enduring institutions”
By Nudoiba Ojen
Stakeholders in the legal profession have showered praises on the legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) for his contributions to law practice and legal education in Nigeria.
The stakeholders including members of the bar and bench and business community, who spoke in Lagos during the opening of the new Ikoyi, Lagos, Branch Office of Afe Babalola & Co, otherwise known as Emmanuel Chambers, described the elders statesman as an inspiration.
Dignitaries at the event included Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, (a retired Justice of the Supreme Court); Chairman of Cham Group, Sir Demola Aladekomo; Mr Ebun Sofunde SAN; Babalola’s son, Mr Tunde Babalola SAN; Hon. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court; Hon. Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court; and Hon. Justice A. M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court.
They included the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro SAN; the President, Nigeria Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN; Dr Koyin Ajayi SAN; Mr Gboyega Oyewole SAN; Mr Dele Adesina SAN; the Chairman, Pan Ocean Oil, Dr Festus Fadeyi; and Prof. Nasiru Tijani of the Nigerian Law School; among others.
Justice Rhodes-Vivour, who said that it was with profound joy and admiration that he accepted the invitation to be part of such a remarkable milestone, said that the occasion was far more than the mere expansion of a law practice, but “the extension of a vision, a testament to perseverance and a bold step forward in the pursuit of justice and excellence by Afe Babalola, one of Nigeria’s great legal practitioners”.
Speaking about Afe Babalola, the retired justice said, “He has shown what it truly means to live with purpose and to serve with passion,” adding that establishing a new branch of the firm is a great feat that required courage, strategic foresight and an abiding belief in growth.
He described the new branch in the heart of Ikoyi as “a beacon of professionalism and a symbol of what is possible when vision meets action” adding that the Lagos Office would not only expand access to first-class legal expertise, but it would also serve as an inspiration to young lawyers, while upholding the high standards of justice that society so urgently needed.
In his remarks, Sir Demola Aladekomo commended Babalola’s sense of industry and contributions to national growth, especially in legal practice and jurisprudence.
Aladekomo said, “He (Afe Babalola) is not just an educationist, he is the planter of seeds that blossomed into forests of enlightenment. He is not just a philanthropist, but he is living proof that true wealth lies in transformed lives”.
“The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, which he built, is not only classrooms, but a citadel of discipline, excellence, and vision. He is that farmer who planted knowledge, the advocate who defended truth, the patriot who built enduring institutions. Today, we salute a colossus of law and learning, a man whose greatness is defined by service, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of excellence”.
Sir Aladekomo shared a personal testimony of how Afe Babalola & Co had stood with Chams Plc as far back as 2001 when Aare Afe Babalola and his Chambers rose in defence of his company (Cham Plc) with passion, rigor, and integrity.
Also speaking, Mr Ebun Sofunde SAN, expressed immense delight at being present and recalled that he first came to know of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, during his university days when Aare was already a formidable presence at the Bar.
The senior advocate charged Nigerians to always strive for excellence, which is both inspiring and uplifting.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Lagos Office and son of Aare Afe Babalola, Mr Tunde Babalola, SAN, acknowledged what he described as the “towering legacy” of his father and the firm’s founder.
He commended Afe Babalola for saddling him with the responsibility of leading Emmanuel Chambers in Lagos.
Tunde Babalola said that Lagos, the base of the new law firm, is more than Nigeria’s commercial capital, but the crossroads where business, finance, and law converge.
He said that this new office was not merely a physical presence in Ikoyi but “envisioned as a center of excellence where legal innovation would be wedded to practical solutions. The aim is not only to act as advocates in the courtroom, but also to serve as trusted advisors in boardrooms, arbitration halls and every arena where the law shapes enterprise and progress”.
He called on the Bar, the Bench, the business community, academia, and the wider public to join hands with the firm in various forms of collaboration, whether through referrals, joint cases, mentorship, or dialogue that “enriches the practice of law, adding that ‘no vision can be realized in isolation”.
He assured clients and partners that the new Lagos Office would deliver the same discipline, excellence, and creativity that had defined the firm for the past six decades, while renewing its commitment to listening, understanding and tailoring solutions to clients’ needs.
He affirmed that the enduring strength of Emmanuel Chambers is not only in the results it achieves but, in the trust, respect, and partnerships it nurtures.
