The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has thumbed his chest that he is succeeding in his dream of making things better the has met them in this country, particularly in the realm of education.
Babalola who spoke when the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Heinz Stockhausen, visited the University last week said he and the Management Team of the University have succeeded largely in changing because they are change agents.
Commending the construction giant for the monumental contributions it has made to the social, educational and infrastructural development of the country, Babalola said: “Although a German company, it has contributed immensely to the economic, social and educational development of this country”.
He added: “As part of its generosity and kindness of heart, one can remember many times in the past when the company went out of its way to help Nigeria out where some other contractors have done some lousy and shoddy jobs. Apart from this, it is on record that Julius Berger has been engaging in some social and educational development of the country, very much unlike other contractors”.
Babalola recalled the practice all over the world whereby important and successful international companies a country always turn around to positively impact and affect their host communities, he submitted that Julius Berger has been performing very well in this regard, pointing out that apart from payment of huge tax, the company has voted several billions of Naira for different development plans in the country.
He thanked the company for the infrastructural assistance it rendered during Babalola’s stint as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when it constructed and furnished a giant and beautiful auditorium for the university in addition to the construction of roads and invited its Managing Director of the company to partner with ABUAD in its avowed determination to champion the institutionalization of quality, functional and reformatory education in Nigeria.
Stockhausen who was later conducted round the university’s massive facilities and its expansive Farm Enterprise Centre commended Babalola for his dream, the monumental infrastructure he was able to put in place in the university’s short four-year history.
He confirmed that what he saw on ground at the University was more than what he has learnt from the Pro Chancellor of the University, Ambassador (Prof.) Iyorwuese Hagher, who accompanied him to the university.
Apart from the Founder and the Pro Chancellor, those of hand to receive Stockhausen were Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola, the Ag. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, Representative of BOT, Prof. I.O. Orubuloye, the Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode, the Bursar, Pastor Modupe Babalola and the University Librarian, Mrs. Rosalyn Subair as well as a battery of academics.