“As a Professor of Political Economy, whose experience and exposure remains enviable and admirable among his patricians- this has not in any made hiked his ego but has deepen his simplicity, humility and willingly to mentor young people across board. Yes! this cannot be contested but, it could be debated by fact finding researchers, who may wish to challenge my accolade accorded to the Don.”
By Mark Orgu, News/Comments, December 5, 2023
It was Nicholo Machiavelli (1469-1527), an Italian diplomat, author, philosopher and historian, best known for his political treatise, The Prince, written around 1513AD, published in 1532, that insisted that the bold would succeed better than the hesitant. On his part in the book, Cicero had also insisted in the De officiis, a work, cited and hailed by the humanists, that a virtuous man should gain his ends by communication and persuasion rather than by force or treachery , the tactics appropriated to animals-the lion and the fox, respectively. And then, Machiavelli on the contrary, argued tentatively, that the Prince must sometimes act the powerful, decisive lion, sometimes the wily, elusive fox, and by doing so, the prince underlined his belief that he could not be constrained by demands of normal morality if he hoped to do his job properly. This brief analysis becomes vital to me as l progress in this commentary about a man whose impact in the Nigerian project cannot be overemphasized, as he believes in morality, and political sanctity of the society.

Prof. Olatunde Gabriel Babawale, the Provost, Anti-Corruption Agency of Nigeria, (ACAN), is a man with multiple intellectual capacity including ideological political boldness, which is the hall of success, as attested by the immortal Machiavelli. His leadership strides come with dignity and respect. A very committed Nigerian, whose agenda has always been, political stability and devaluation of power to allow component units develop in their own pace. Prof. Babawale has always advocated this in most of his lectures in different fora.
Prof. Babawale in June this year, delivered Afrikanwatch Network 12th lecture titled, Arise ‘O’ Compatriots In the Spirit of Building One Nation. As a Professor of Political Economy, whose experience and exposure remains enviable and admirable among his patricians- this has not in any made hiked his ego but has deepen his simplicity, humility and willingly to mentor young people across board. Yes! this cannot be contested but, it could be debated by fact finding researchers, who may wish to challenge my accolade accorded to the Don.

Interestingly again, Prof. Babawale delivered the 2018 Afrikanwatch annual lecture, titled “Did our founding fathers dream of a united Nigeria?” which has remained one of the highly documented reference lectures of all time in our media house. In that lecture, the Professor had captured the failures of leadership in Nigeria, tracing the untidy political grassroot processes that final give us the kind of leaders we have. What he described as a major problem confronting the Nigerian society and the character of political parties. “There is a total breakdown of discipline and lack of focus in many of the parties. Indeed, we can say that many of the political parties lack essential attributes of political parties. They neither articulate the interest of the populace nor do what they possess-the wherewithal to curb the excesses of members”
Genealogically, Between 1977 and 1985, Gabriel Babawale earned two prestigious academic honours as student and scholar, at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU), where he won the Departmental Scholarship Grant for the Best overall Graduate performance, at the Department of International Relations, during the 1983/84 session. In 1991, he was appointed Lecturer Grade-1 by the University of Lagos as he proved his capacity and diligence to duty-a feat that resulted in his elevation as a Professor of Political Economy in 2005 (backed-dated to 2002).
His proficiency in teaching and research gave him various recognitions, even within and outside the University environment. In fact, he was voted the best lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos by the students, in a-widely carried out survey, conducted during the 2003/2004 academic session. He was the founding, and until 2006, Managing Editor of the reputable UNILAG Journal of Politics.
Prof. Babawale has consulted widely for local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as UNESCO and the African Union (AU) etc., and he has also coordinated research funded by agencies such as the Ford Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. He has manned numerous administrative roles including Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the University of Lagos branch, 1993 to 1996, Assistant Dean of Students Affairs, Unilag, 1998 to 2000, and Dean of Students Affairs, 2014 to 2016.
He was the Chairman of the Ford Foundation Grant Committee for the Department of Political Science, same University, from 2002 to 2006 and Chairman, Intellectual Nodal Contact Committee, a Committee set up by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos to enhance the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan, 2005 to 2006.
Professor Babawale is a prolific author who has contributed over one hundred and twenty (120) papers to learned local and international journals, international conference proceedings, and technical papers. He has published Twenty-one (21) books and Seven (7) monographs to date. The Academic Don is a member of many learned societies and academic associations, including the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), the Historical Society of Nigeria, and the Third World Forum among many others.
In August 2006, he was appointed Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), a parastatal under the then Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and National Orientation. In less than 4 years he transformed the then 24 years old center into a world-class arts and culture agency.
During this period, the Centre organised and hosted 8 international conferences for academic experts on Africa, and African diaspora studies both within and outside Nigeria. He also helped in the strengthening of Nigeria-Brazil cultural relations by facilitating the signing of an MOU between the two countries in Abuja, Nigeria on the 15th of March, 2010.
Prof. Babawale served as a member of the Administrative Visitation Panel set up by the state government ,to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, Ondo State, in 2009. In 2017, he was appointed to serve as an Electoral Commissioner in the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), where he was until his appointment in 2021 as the Provost of the Anticorruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training and research arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The University Don turned administrator has received numerous recognitions, awards, and honours both locally and internationally, some of which include: the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Outstanding Leadership Merit Award in 2008; Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association Excellence in Public Service Award in 2010; the Distinguished Public Service Award of the University of Texas at Austin, United States of America in 2012, African Gold Merit Award, 2018, and was inducted into Afrikanwatch Hall of Fame in 2022 amongst several others. He is married with children.
Orgu, wrote from Lagos, he is the Editor, Afrikanwatch Network, (08028592006)
For Your Interview On National Issues, Or Article, Commentary Or Event Coverage. View Our Services And Profile By Clicking About Afrikanwatch Network And Service.+2348028592006, +2349126686480: Email Us @: Afrikanwatch122@Gmail.Com
I am perpetually thought about this, regards for posting.