The University of London has bestowed the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) on legal luminary, educationist and philanthropist, Chief Afe Babalola, during its 2015 graduation ceremony held at the Barbican Centre, London on Wednesday.
Babalola, is the first African to be so honored by the university with a doctorate degree in Law after Nelson Mandela (Doctor of Science, Economics) in 1996 and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Doctor of Divinity) 2008.
Eminent Nigerians have hailed the award.Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has described the award as recognition of Babalola’s “contributions and undiminished input to humanity, particularly the legal profession in Nigeria.”
Olanipekun said the honor is “a departure from the depressing and discomforting news oozing out of Nigeria in very recent times; the proverbial sweetness that emerges at the dusk of the bitter leaf.”
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, described the award as the recognition of Babalola’s “outstanding achievements and meritorious service to humanity.”
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in his reaction, said that the university was persuaded by “those sterling qualities – those strides on the sands of time and those impactful contributions to legal education and the world of knowledge” recorded by the Octogenarian.
The Vice Chancellor, University of London, Sir Adrian Smith, responding to a mail said, “We are indeed delighted that Chief Afe Babalola will be accepting the honorary degree from the University of London because he has an exceptional record in both his personal achievements and in the difference he has made to others, particularly in the legal profession in Nigeria.”
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