The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has described the legal icon Aare Afe Babalola as a great philanthropist, who has continue to support upcoming generation of lawyers in Nigeria.
The NBA,Ibadan branch Chairman , Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi gave the commendation while thanking Aare Afe Babalola for sponsoring the annual football competition,the Aare Afe Babalola (SAN)/Ibadan Bar Five Aside Football Competition.
The football tournament which started with eight teams in 2019 at the Olubadan stadium, Ibadan is sponsored by Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers) to celebrate the legal icon who is the Founder/ Principal Partner of the firm.
The indomitable Adebayo, Gbadamosi & Co defeated the star studded team of Makanjuola Esan & Co 2-1 to lift this year’s trophy of the Aare Afe Babalola (SAN)/Ibadan Bar Five Aside Football Competition.
The game which attracted top legal icons in the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch was played at the Olubadan stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan on Tuesday.
The champions also went home with a cash prize of N250,000 and gold medals.
Earlier, the runners up, the Crown Solicitors defeated Lafeef Fagbemi & Co 3-1 to clinch the third place in the football competition .
While appreciating the founder Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti(ABUAD) fir his fatherly role and mentorship,the NBA chairman said “Aare Afe Babalola is a great philanthropist and you can see that for about ten years now he has solely financing this annual football competition and I hope that they will take to beyond the branch . So, baba is our patron a very helpful one, and a very good mentor, ” the NBA Chairman said.
Among eminent lawyers who were in attendance to watch the finals of the competition are the Principal Partner, Afe Babalola & Co, Mr Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), Assistant Inspection General of Police ( AIG) retired, Mr Bola Longe who is also a Partner, Afe Babalola & Co, and the former Oyo state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Otunba Adebayo Ojo (SAN), who is also Principal Partner, Adebayo, Gbadamosi & Co.
Others are the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi , the Deputy Head of Chambers, Afe Babalola & Co, Mr Kelly Ogbe, and the Chairman , Sports Committee, NBA, Ibadan branch, Mogaji Rotimi Alli, among others.
The Principal Partner, Afe Babalola & Co Mr Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), who was excited at the brilliant performance of the players commended the members of the Organising Committee led by its Chairman, Mogaji Rotimi Alli for the wonderful job they did to ensure a successful tournament this year.
“I must say that the Chamber ( Afe Babalola & Co) is highly impressed by the high level of participation and brilliant performance of the players on the field. And we hope that next year’s edition,we will have another good one like this , if not better. I also commend members of the Organising Committee for the fantastic job to ensure that this year’s competition is a huge success”.