Afe Babalola

Afe Babalola was born in Ekiti State South Western Nigeria. He attended Emmanuel Primary School, Ado Ekiti.[5] He later enrolled for the Senior Cambridge School Certificate examination by private study from Wolsey Hall, Oxford.[6] He later obtained the A’Level certificate of London University before he proceeded to London School of Economics where he received a bachelor's degree in Economics.[7] He worked briefly at the Central Bank of Nigeria before he left to the University of London where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Law.[8] In 1963, he was called to the England bar, the same year he became a member of Lincoln's Inn, London.[9]

Afe Babalola began his career at Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, western Nigeria as a litigation lawyer Olu Ayoola and Co, law firm. In 1965, after two years of legal practice, he established his own law firm, Afe Babalola and Co. (Emmanuel Chambers).[10] In 1987, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the highest rank in Legal profession in Nigeria.[11] In 2001, he was appointed, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria.[12] He held the position till 2008 during which he emerged as best Pro-Chancellor of Nigerian Universities consecutively in 2005 and 2006.[13] In 2009, he established Afe Babalola University to promote education in Nigeria and the university's College of law has at different times rated best in Nigeria. In 2013, the university was ranked the second best private university in Nigeria and 17 of 136 universities in Nigeria.[14] He was described by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu as a molder and builder of future leaders as well as a philanthropist of repute during the 5th convocation ceremony of the institution in October 2017.[15]

He is the father to Folashade Alli, Bolanle Austen-Peters Gboyega Babalola and Michael Opeyemi Babalola.[16]