The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has hailed the giant strides of Aare Afe Babalola in agriculture, health, engineering, among other sectors.
The President , Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, gave this remark while leading a delegation to the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Balogun acknowledged that ABUAD is a well-planned Institution, which its Industrial Park and Multisystem that are second to none.
He said the chamber is ready to collaborate with the world-class university in ensuring duty-free exportation of AB-Foods.
“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 Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. I have not seen a well-planned university like ABUAD. I have not seen a university with a collection of many Green Houses like ABUAD.
“I was at the Industrial Park. I saw the Garri, Fufu, Rice, Poundo yam and Ogi industries. 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.
“I am the current President of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, 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 AB-Foods. We all know that no country, no people can survive without food. Indeed, without food, it may be difficult to have the world as we have it today.
“We will equally join your university in promoting your Herbal Drugs particularly as we promote excellence as a body. I was at the Multi-System Hospital. As an Engineer, I know about equipment and as a matter of fact, I have assisted in the supply and installation of equipment in many universities and hospitals around the world. But then, what I saw in ABUAD amazed me. I saw the MRI machines, the Dialysis machines. I can say without any equivocation that there is no Teaching Hospital in Nigeria that has the quantum and quality of equipment you have in ABUAD Hospital for which I congratulate you”.
In his response, Afe Babalola commended the chamber for recognising his tremendous achievements, saying all these are geared towards contributing to the growth and development of mankind.
He sought for the assistance of the Chamber in his quest for establishment of free trade zone, saying its realisation will boost the development of the state and the country by extension.
“I have always believed that God’s time is the best. God’s time has come today. Today is the day the Lord has made, and we are glad and rejoicing in it. I have been on this planet earth for almost 100 years now. This is the happiest day of my life. Indeed, I am short of words. I am moved. I don’t know we have 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.
“There is no one in the world that does not like good things. For me, I like good things and I daily work towards achieving good things. And that was why I started this university some 15 years ago after my seven-year stint asnt he Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG. You have made my day indeed.
“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 come together, brace up and develop the enormous potentials we have in this country.
“I will need your assistance in the actualization of the Free Trade Zone which I have applied for in the past. The realization of that dream will boost the development of the state and the country by extension.
I thank you for selecting me for the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education, Law, Healthcare, Agriculture, Community Development and Philanthropy in appreciation of what you Described as my “Extra-ordinary contributions in various areas of human endeavour”.