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) (@EzekielOla21) 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 (@ctechdesign1) 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?
— Babajideola Jay-Jackson (@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.