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EKITI COUNCIL OF ELDERS SET TO IMMORTALISE CHIEF JOEL EHINAFE BABATOLA
…Constitutes nine-member Board of Trustee to kick-start annual lecture in honour of ardent lieutenant of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Ekiti Council of Elders has inaugurated a nine-member Board of Trustees to oversee an annual lecture series in memory of Chief Joel Ehinafe Babatola, who was one of the ardent lieutenants of the late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo.
The president of the council, Prof Joseph Oluwasanmi described Chief Babatola as one of the heroes, who brought about the radical transformation of the Western Region into the mainstream of modern civilization.
According to the president, Babatola was an exemplar whose modesty, patriotism and honesty should be given a place in history to imbue on this generation and the generations to come and spur them to live worthy lives of commitment to humanity.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Oyo State Chapter of Yoruba Council of Elders, Prof. Bolanle Tanimowo said that Ekiti has once again proven itself to be a knowledge-based state with quality ideas and the veritable tools to drive such ideas, saying immortalising a personality like Pa Joel Babatola was well thought out.
On his part, His Imperial Majesty, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, a special guest at the occasion said he was happy that Chief Babatola is being immortalised in such an esteemed annual lecture series.
The monarch also expressed appreciation to the elders, recalling that the joint Council of the elders and the traditional rulers had severally collaborated on issues critical to the advancement of peace and progress of the Ekiti State.
In his remarks, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented by the Commissioner of Special Duties, Adeniyi Dolamu, said that the governor was in tandem with every activity of the elders, thanking them for their unrelenting useful pieces of advice and their tireless services to the state.
Amongst the prominent Ekiti indigenes who made the nine-man board of Trustees are: Mr Femi Adewumi a retired Head of Service in Ekiti State, Oba Adebayo Awoseyila, the Alamo of Ilamo Ekiti, Olori Abosede Adejugbe Aladesanmi, the Eyesorun of Ado Ekiti.
Others are Chief Ronke Okusanya, Prof. Sunday Tunde Akindele, Mr. Lawrence Olagoke Egunjobi, comrade Sam Gbenga Agbetuyi and Dr. Ope Babatola who is a son of the late hero.
The late Chief (Dr.) Joel Ehinafe Babatola (198-2014) was an Ekiti renowned statesman, community leader, politician, international cooperator, and accomplished educationist.
He was born on 7th November 1918, at Ado Ekiti, present day Ekiti State of Nigeria.
He was educated at St. Paul’s Anglican School, Ikole-Ekiti between 1928 and 1930, Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Ado-Ekiti between 1931 and 1932 and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti from 1932 to 1933. He was the School Secretary (a Prefect position) under the School Master (Principal) – Ven. Henry Dallimore in his final year.
He taught at Igede Baptist School as a pupil teacher for a year and then at Ikole.
Some of his students at the Ikole included His Royal Majesty Oba Adetula Adeleye, the past Elekole of Ikole and Justice Jide Olatawura of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He was admitted as the best candidate all over Nigeria in the entrance examination into St. Andrew’s College, Oyo in 1938 where he trained in the Senior Teachers Course and served as a Prefect in the final year while on his studies at Oyo in 1941.
After passing the Teacher Training Programme, he was deployed as a Teacher by the Anglican Educational Board to Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti in 1942. He served as a classroom teacher, a dinning hall master and later became the first Science Master of the School.
Some of his pupils at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti later became General Adeyinka Adebayo (Military Governor of Western State of Nigeria), Chief Samuel Asabia (a renowned Central Bank Deputy Governor in Nigeria), and Prof. Sam Aluko (a respected Nigerian Economist).
Chief J.E. Babatola served as the Minister (Cabinet and Premier Office) in the Western Nigeria under Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the colonial era.
He also served
as the Minister of Home Affairs and Information in the Western Region of Nigeria under Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola during the First Republic in 1960.
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Chief Babatola was a Commissioner representing Ekiti Divisions in the Government of Western State of Nigeria in 1971 under Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi.
He served as the Chairman of the Ondo State Housing Corporation during the second republic of old Ondo State (1979-1983).
High Chief (Dr.) J.E.Babatola,The late High Chief Olora of Ado- Ekiti was inaugurated by former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in 2012 as the Patron of the Ekiti Council of Elders and Government Elders Advisory Committee.
Until his death on 24 November 2014, at a ripe age of 96, High Chief Joel Ehinafe Babatola, the Olora of Ado-Ekiti, was the Vice President of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and the oldest surviving disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Credit: The Nation with additional input by Ekiti Summit News
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