Legal luminary cum educationist per excellence, Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has been appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Patron, World Orisa Congress of Nigeria (WOOCO).
Presenting the letter of appointment to Babalola in his office in Ado-Ekiti over the weekend, Executive Secretary of National Institute of Cultural Orientation(NICO) Otunba Biodun Ajiboye accompanied by Princess Fadekemi Ogunwusi and the Ooni’s Liaison Officer in Brazil and South America Osunleye Ajoyemi predicated Babalola’s appointment on what he acknowledged as his (Babalola’s) “enduring contributions to education, culture, jurisprudence and national development”.
According to Ajiboye: “The World Orisa Congress is a global platform dedicated to the preservation, promotion and advancement of Orisa tradition, indigenous knowledge systems and African spiritual heritage”.
“As we continue to position WOOCON as a unifying and intellectually vibrant forum, we recognize the importance of distinguished personalities whose wisdom, integrity and cultural depth can guide and inspire our mission.
“What Aare Afe Babalola has done is out of his love for his people and the advancement of their course because he could have used his resources for the comfort of his family. However, he is not that type of person. He is altruistic and he loves his people. He loves humanity.”
“Baba, with what I saw during the extensive tour of the university, I have no doubt that you have realized your ambition. You have even surpassed your dreams and for this you deserve to be celebrated as a deity because you have made a success of your dream”. Ajiboye said.
In his response, Babalola, a former Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, commended Board Chairman of NICO; the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for promoting WOOCON and for being the father of all.”
His words: “The Ooni is a very progressive man. I respect and love him. There is nothing we do here in this university that His Imperial Majesty does not honour us with his esteemed presence for which we are grateful. His rule has brought progress to Obaship and the Yoruba Nation”.
“The Ooni is a special being. He is the rallying point of the Yoruba Nation. What you are doing in WOOCON is just an extension and a propagation of Ooni’s philosophy. Because of this, no one needs to persuade me to be part of this noble project as epitomized by WOOCON. I am all yours. I will support you in this project in all ways, including financially.”
“I am a Yoruba man to the core and I habour this believe that the Yoruba Nation was one of the most advanced in those days. However, the Slave Trade robbed us of many of our virtues. But all hopes are not lost because I established this university to regain some of those things we have lost in time past. We must all unite to regain our lost glory.”
“I am therefore, not surprised at the June 18, 2026, ratings of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings which rated our university, ABUAD, as No. 1 University in Nigeria for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and one of the Best 100 Universities globally.
“I accept this appointment wholeheartedly and I will contribute in diverse ways to ensure its success. Our Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, is a man of vision and a clear leader.”
Aare Babalola also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Federal Government of Nigeria for his strategic alliance with the Brazilian president Lula da Silva aimed at taking the great potentials of our cultural ties with Brazil which is hosting not less than 70 millions of descendants of Oduduwa.
In her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde congratulated WOOCON, a body with tentacles in Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Columbia, South Carolina and Benin as well as Trinidad & Tobago, for appreciating Babalola’s sterling contributions in the realm of education, culture, jurisprudence, national development, philanthropy, Agriculture and industrialization.
She emphasized that the university is ready to partner with WOOCON.