Controversy Sparks as Afe Babalola Donates $10 Million to King’s College, London

Afe Babalola, a renowned lawyer and philanthropist in Nigeria has donated a significant $10 million towards the establishment of the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational learning in King’s College, London. This news has been met with various mixed reactions as some have praised his generosity while others question his priorities and criticize him for donating to a foreign land. 

WHO IS AFE BABALOLA?

Afe Babalola is a famed lawyer, philanthropist and educationist born on October 30, 1929, In Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. He studied law at the University of London in the 1950s, and was called to the England bar in 1963. In that same year, he became a memeber of Lincoln’s Inn. 

Afe Babalola is married to Modupe Mercy Babalola and has Nine children. 

In 2009, he founded the Age Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, a private university that has gained traction and popularity quickly over the years. Afe Babalola has supported different educational initiatives across the country, including the donation of scholarships to indigent students and has also established a primary school in his hometown.

The Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Learning is an innovative effort aimed at providing education and opportunities to Africans who would otherwise have no access to such privileges. The center will function potentially as a forefront for research and innovation, bringing together scholars, researchers, and students from all over the continent to address critical issues confronting Africa at present.

Nonetheless, the controversy surrounding the $10 million donation raises some important questions about philanthropy in Africa as a whole. 

Various questions and opinions have also been raised on social media. Some of them include users saying things like:

“What about his hometown in Ado Ekiti?, do they not need donations for development there anymore?”

“$10 million is a lot of money to be spending in a foreign land. Why not focus on developments in poor areas in Nigeria. Helping build schools and feeding poor children “

“Why London? When will Africans come home? Why is it called African learning centre when it is established far away from Africa? WAKE UP AFRICANS!”

In the end, the significance of Afe Babalola's donation lies not only in the amount of money donated but in the broader message it sends. By establishing the Afe Babalola African Centre for Transnational Learning, he is demonstrating his belief in the power of education to transform lives and societies, and his commitment to building a better future for all Africans