I stopped my education at Primary Six –Afe Babalola

Aare Afe Babalola needs no introduction. His name has become a household brand to many families in and outside Nigeria. But he did not just get to this level on a platter of gold as he had a humble beginning.

His parents could not afford to train him beyond primary school level at Emmanuel Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, because they were financially handicapped. But he didn’t because of that give up hope on himself.
He rode on his challenge and forged ahead. He started by engaging in private studies, through which he obtained his other academic qualifications.
He has the Cambridge School Certificate, GCE ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level certificates of London University as well as Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the same university, all through private efforts.
You may then ask how he became a lawyer of notable standing that he is today, even becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
After his degree in Economics, according to him, he has the opportunity of working in Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Mobil but he turned both offers down, saying: “I did that because I still wanted to study.”
Afe Babalola then registered for external degree in Law at the London University. After passing through that, still through private studies, he travelled to England for his call to the Bar in 1963.
He said: “Thus, I am a member of Lincoln’s Inn, London, a registered member of the Bar of England and Wales, as well as a distinguished member of the Nigerian Bar.”
Today, Aare Babalola is a lawyer of international repute. He started his law profession from the chambers of Olu Ayoola and Company in Ibadan after his return from the United Kingdom, from where he cut his legal teeth. He was with Olu Ayoola and Company till 1965, when he established Afe Babalola and Company, Emmanuel Chambers, which is reputed as one of the leading law firms in the country today.
“I was admitted into the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1987,” he added. Aare Babalola, an octogenarian, has contributed meaningfully to the legal practice in the country.
Apart from being an active member of the International Bar Association, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, and that of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria as well as the Leadership Institute of Supreme Court of Nigeria, a body that appoints Senior Advocates.
Besides legal practice, through which he became famous, Aare Babalola is also well-known for his strong contributions to the education sector as well as his philanthropic activities.
He was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between 2001 and 2008 and won the best Pro-Chancellor of the Nigerian Universities for two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006.
Aare Babalola’s contributions to education and humanity did not end there. He is one of those who believe strongly that education is a potent weapon, for individuals as well as nations, to fight ignorance, poverty and diseases.
He has not only sponsored many brilliant but indigent children in school up to the university level, but he has supported and still supporting the cause of education at all levels.
Interestingly, he had been doing all these long before he established Afe Babalola University, Ado –Ekiti, ABUAD, about five years ago.
The university, with a state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructures with quality academic and skill development, is today one of the reputable universities in the country.
Aare Babalola, who is also a farmer and lecturer, has to his credit many local and international laurels. He however, attributed all the achievements to God with the determination to do more.