Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, has called on all levels of government to honor true patriots.
He asserts that these citizens have made vital contributions to national progress, rather than focusing solely on politicians and public officials.
On Tuesday, while accepting the Ekiti Summit Person of the Year 2024 award in Ado, Babalola shared this important message.
This recognition celebrated his remarkable achievements across various sectors, including education, law, health, agriculture, and technology.
Moreover, he criticized the tendency to recognize individuals lacking notable societal contributions, arguing that it promotes mediocrity over merit.
Babalola stressed that celebrating mediocrity could diminish the morale of those genuinely striving for the country’s growth and development.
Additionally, the elder statesman highlighted the importance of encouraging others by recognizing and celebrating excellence in diverse fields.
He praised the Ekiti Summit Magazine and its publisher, Femi Alufa, for their commitment to the state’s advancement.
“I’m at a loss for words,” he expressed, showing gratitude for the surprise award.
He added, “I appreciate everyone; I hope others aspire to be better than I am. Giving brings me joy.”
Babalola also noted his long-standing relationship with Alufa, commending his dedication to Ekiti’s progress.
He urged attendees to acknowledge the efforts of others, emphasizing that praise motivates individuals striving for success.
Furthermore, he appealed to both state and federal governments, encouraging them to recognize those making positive contributions.
“Instead of awarding politicians, let’s honor the best market women, farmers, and cocoa producers. That’s how we inspire greater efforts.”
Earlier, Femi Alufa, the Publisher of Ekiti Summit Magazine, praised the award’s merit-based nature.
He explained that a thorough screening process was used to identify individuals positively impacting lives in Ekiti.
Alufa underscored that Afe Babalola’s contributions have secured his legacy, marking him as a living legend in history.
“Afe Babalola, SAN, was named Ekiti Summit Person of the Year 2024, following ABUAD’s outstanding rankings by Times Higher Education.”
He highlighted that ABUAD has maintained the top position among 264 universities in Nigeria for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Additionally, it ranks first globally in SDG 7 and outreach, achieving impressive scores of 98% and 98.2%, respectively.
Alufa concluded by stating that no one has contributed more to educational development, philanthropy, and preserving Ekiti’s values of excellence and knowledge than Aare Afe Babalola.