By John Odunayo
IT was another time for the founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola and indeed the ABUAD community to celebrate on Thursday as Babalola was awarded with the Fellowship of Kings College, London.
An elated Babalola danced as he celebrated the honour coming to him in ABUAD while others get such only during the gradation ceremonies of the prestigious Kings College in far-away London.
The Vice President, International, Engagement and Service, of Kings College, London, Prof Funmi Olonisakin, who led a delegation of the institution to Nigeria and indeed ABUAD for the investiture, lauded Afe Babalola for his contributions to transformative education and to society.
Olonisakin said that the Fellowship of Kings College, London awarded to Babalola “is typically given to people who have made transformative contributions to society at large or to Kings College, London, which often makes impact on communities around them”.
Olonisakin, who said that the award was signed by the College’s Chairman of Council and President/Vice Chancellor after it was approved late last year, said, “Usually, the recipient of the Fellowship of Kings College, London would be conferred at a graduation ceremony, but exceptionally, we have come here to present this award to Aare Afe Babalola”.
Welcome guests to the event earlier, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, thanked King’s College, London for the honour conferred on the ABUAD founder.
Olarinde said the investiture was most befitting, as it was in recognition of Babalola’s efforts in education, and other areas of life.
The VC described Babalola as ‘the exemplar of the power of transformative education’ in Nigeria, and African continent.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, hailed the giant strides of the founder, in the areas of medicine, law, invention and sciences.
Oyebanji, represented by the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said that Afe Babalola’s footprints across all sectors, had made him the father of the state, stressing that his uncommon humanity and impact had also ranked him higher, against all odds.
In his reaction, Aare Afe Babalola said, “I consider it great honour to receive thus prestigious Honorary Fellowship of Kings College London.
“I was very proud to receive the invitation signed by the Chairman of Council of Kings College, the Lord Geidt stating that this Fellowship ‘is awarded to individuals who have had a transformative impact on the college through their work or activities or whose accomplishments are exceptional and align with the King’s aspirations and values.
“I am enormously delighted and pleased to have been found worthy of such a rare honour. I sincerely thank my dear distinguished Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, FKC, and all members of her team who traveled all the way from London to Nigeria to present this award to me”.
Babalola, said, “in 2015, I received Honorary Doctors of Law from University of London for which I am eternally grateful. Kings College London is a respected college of University of London. However, receiving this Honorary Fellowship today gives me additional joy.
“It is indeed an open secret that I have a special admiration and bond with the University of London and by extension Kings College London.
The ABUAD founder, who went down memory lane, saying that apart from primary six leaving certificate, all the education he received was through correspondence study, said his partnership with Kings College, London was targeted at reviving the correspondence system.
Babalola, who said that millions of underprivileged but brilliant people in Nigeria and around the world had same problem which deprived him from continuing school after primary school, said, “It has since been my personal desire and earnest wish to provide the same opportunity (correspondence study) for transformative education”.
He expressed joy that “Kings College, London warmed up to the idea and we established the Afe Babalola Transnational Education Centre with the aim of reviving the correspondence education system and infuse with modern technological enhancements for greater reach and impact”.
