Key Highlights
- Chief Afe Babalola has donated £10 million towards the establishment of a learning center at King’s College in London.
- The donation is intended to create the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Education at King’s College.
- Babalola’s goal is to provide education and opportunities to young Africans who might not otherwise have access.
Chief Afe Babalola, the Nigerian lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, has faced severe criticism for his donation of £10 million towards the establishment of a learning center at King’s College, London.
The donation is intended to create the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Education at King’s College, which Babalola says is part of his effort to provide education and opportunities to young Africans who might not otherwise have access.
Why Afe Babalola is being criticised
However, some social media users have expressed disapproval of the donation, with some berating Babalola for what they perceive as excessive spending. At the current official exchange rate provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, £10 million is equivalent to over N5.6 billion.
Comments on social media
EzekielOla21 said: “What of his Ekiti State? Don’t they need money for development there anymore?”
What of his Ekiti State? Don’t they need money for development there anymore?
— Life Is Good(LG) (@Ezek_Ola21) March 27, 2023
TrueAFICIONADO said: “10 million pounds that is about 9 billion naira which can be used to build and equip schools in the poor areas for poor children in Nigeria sent to the same country that we are borrowing from. Hmmmm . We really have leaders in Nigeria.”
@ctechdesign1 said: “Well, u can’t tell someone how to spend his money because it is not ur business. And u don’t know why he chose to spend it that way. But frankly speaking, is this not better spent in your own country Nigeria or at least in Africa. And not to our colonial masters country.”
Well, u can't tell someone how to spend his money because it is not ur business. And u don't know why he chose to spend it that way. But frankly speaking, is this not better spent in your own country Nigeria or at least in Africa. And not to our colonial masters country.
— Eze (@lordcorne) March 27, 2023
JideAkintunde1 said: “How much has be donated to support children that are out of school?How much has he donated to as charity to young/adultsl who intend to go to school but their parents can’t afford to pay their tuition fees?”
How much has be donated to support children that are out of school?How much has he donated to as charity to young/adultsl who intend to go to school but their parents can't afford to pay their tuition fees?
— Nomorestress (@JideAkintunde1) March 27, 2023
Realhonour199 said: “Afe Babalola gifting £10m to London college is unwise at this time that many colleges, unis in 9ja are sufferíng due to poor funding. Cases of students sitting/lying on the floor to learn, unis/polys without equipped lab, community schools without roof/windows are on the increase.”
Afe Babalola gifting £10m to London college is unwise at this time that many colleges, unis in 9ja are sufferíng due to poor funding. Cases of students sitting/lying on the floor to learn, unis/polys without equipped lab, community schools without roof/windows are on the increase
— Oriretan Honour (@realhonour199) March 27, 2023
OkwunnaU said: “Why London? when will Africans come home? Hasn’t Africans supported London/Britain enough?. You called it African Learning centre yet you’re establishing it outside Africa that tantamount to learning how to swim in Sahara desert. Wake-up Africans.”
Why London? when will Africans come home? Hasn't Africans supported London/Britain enough?. You called it African Learning centre yet you're establishing it outside Africa that tantamount to learning how to swim in Sahara desert. Wake-up Africans.
— Okwunna Umedagu (@OkwunnaU) March 27, 2023
Afe Babalola’s Philanthropic gestures in Nigeria
Afe Babalola is known for his philanthropic activities, his passion for development in general is matchless as exemplified in his service to community through donations of over N2 billion. Some of his philanthropic efforts are highlighted below.
- Financed and donated the imposing multi-million Afe Auditorium to University of Lagos. The building was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR in 2006.
- Financed and donated a multi-million Naira building for African Heritage Library at Olorunda-Aba Road, Ibadan.
- Donated a multi-million Naira Nuclear Medicine Building to UCH Ibadan.
- Constructed a multi-million Naira model BAR Centre for the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch at Ibadan.
- Made substantial financial contribution to PREMI an organization for the Rehabilitation of Prisoners.
- Initiated Endowment Fund Scheme in University of Lagos. The annual income from capital investment of donation is being used to award scholarships to students in the University of Lagos. Five hundred scholarships were awarded in February 2006 under the Chairmanship of President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. It is the first of its type in the history of our universities.
- Initiated the BOT system under which hostels worth hundreds of millions of Naira are being constructed for the University of Lagos.
- Contributed more than 10% of the money to finance the construction and take-off of Ado-Ekiti Federal Polytechnic.
that man Afe Babalola is a physco, i think his money is running him mad! alot of people are dying of hunger and unemployment in Ekiti state but he is investing money to UK.
the investments he has in Ekiti one cannot easily get job there, his school only the rich kids can attend so what is the excense of his silly money???
NIGERIANS WAKE UP!!!!
Imile or whatever you call yourself, you are the psycho.
Where were you when the man donated N100million Naira to Ekiti state government during covid19 in addition to 100 bags of rice,and other food stuffs?
Where were you when he was financing projects all over the place? Where were you when he gave and is still giving farmers in Ekiti millions of Naira every year?
100 bags of rice , must of these guys aren’t that wealthy anyway its a public ity stunt .
Strange donation. He made every single Kobo of his riches by gaming the Nigerian system. Even the university he build is among the most expensive in school fees. One would have thought he would have used that kind of money to allow exceptional students who cannot afford his school to attend on scholarship.
This is a vain-glorious man. No wonder he named the university after himself and he is carrying looted Nigerian wealth to the colonial masters.
This donation is the highest level of irresponsibility,in a country where majority of the citizens cannot afford a meal a day, and one man from the same country has gone to donate such huge sums of money in a country that’s known for hiding and covering some of our corrupts citizens that stole our common wealth .A country that brought most of the problems we are facing today as a country, just for their selfish gain.This man would have rather use this huge amount to build skill acquisition center for the numerous unemployed graduates in Ekiti State for posterity to judge him well.
Can someone tell the source of his wealth by the way. He,s a retired judge not a business man .Just been curious ?
I thank God for him, he has his personal reasons. If not for the London courses he studied from his house he wouldn’t have been able to finish school. He has every reason to say thank you to London. He is using this platform to benefit students who may need to study abroad since it’s almost a Herculean task these days
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.