The founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has canvassed the support of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce for the establishment of a free trade zone in the institution.
Babalola requested on Thursday while hosting the President of the Chamber, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, Secretary, Dr Bello Nuhu Dongondaji, and other top executives, who were on a visitation tour of the university and its subsidiaries.
The Chancellor said, “I, therefore, will need your assistance in the actualization of the free trade zone, which I have applied for, but has not seen the light of the day.
“Expectedly, the realisation of that dream will further boost the development of the state, and the country by extension.
“It has always been my belief that Nigeria belongs to all of us. We are the ones that can develop it. No Chinese, no Japanese, no American can do that for us.
“We all must show patriotism and commitment by coming together, brace up, and developing the enormous potential we have in this country”.
Babalola, thanked the chamber, for selecting him for the Lifetime Achievement Award, in Education, Law, Healthcare, Agriculture, Community Development and Philanthropy.
He said that today was the happiest day of his over 90 years on earth, due to the visit of the executives of the chamber.
“Indeed, I am short of words. I am moved. I didn’t know we had a forward-looking organisation like the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce that is not only watching us, but that is thinking the way we are thinking.”
Earlier, the President of the Chamber, Balogun, who doubles as President of the National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria, had commended Babalola’s visionary and patriotic endeavors, as exemplified especially in areas of food processing industries, well-equipped multi-system hospital and farm, among others in ABUAD.
The elated Balogun, who announced a personal donation of N1 million contribution to the university, said “Agriculture is the backbone and lifeline of any country in the world. Any country that does not give priority to agriculture is doomed.
“I have been to many universities in and outside Nigeria, but I have not seen a university like ABUAD.
“I have not seen a well-planned university like ABUAD. I have not seen a university with a collection of many greenhouses like ABUAD. I was at the industrial park. I saw the garri, fufu, rice, poundo yam and ogi industries, among several others.
“If we work together, we will have the first shipment of these quality agricultural products to the United States of America before long, all exportation tax-free.
“The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, which I currently lead, is an Association that has been in existence since 1960.
“The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce is more than ready to collaborate with this world-class university, in ensuring duty-free exportation of ABUAD-Foods as well as promoting its invented herbal drugs,” he said.
The duo of Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Supo Ijabadeniyi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor administration appreciated the visit by the chamber’s leadership, expressing assurances of the institution’s willingness to collaborate in any area.
