“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. Babawale

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.

Prof. Babawale being inducted into ALHF by Col. Dare retd

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)

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By afrikanwatchngr@gmail.com

As a digital innovative media outfit, that is equipping its capacity with Artificial intelligence (AI) and daily happening around the globe, Afrikanwatch Network continues on the part of capacity through the its operations. Afrikanwatch was initially mcnextafrica intellectual property, until in 2017, where it modified it to Afrikanwatch Media. By 2018, it saw the need to remodify the name again to Afrikanwatch Network Communications, having expanded its coat of operations , including media consultancy and training. So far, the online news outfit provide services such as general news across board, digital publishing, communication strategy, journalism, profiling/editing, autobiography and biography writing, event coverage/live streaming, cinematography, production of synethetic photobooks, event planning and management, cyber-security ICT consultancy,Digital marketing and trainings Interestingly, all Afrikanwatch crew are experts, the editor-in-Chief, Mark Orgu, is a strategic and creative bubbling journalist, full of ideas and innovation. Sam Igiebor, is the Online special editor, who has managed the branding of the news outfit since 2015. He is also an advanced cinematographer with track records of excellence and service delivery. Innocent Samuel, is the Deputy online Editor, maintaining the site of the media outfit and providing technical support on the site. He is a trained computer expert with a certified certificate on cyber security abroad. Chidera Eke, is the acting head, News/Strategic Communications, a very committed and intelligent young lady with patriotic gesture to task and duty. Richard Ibu, is the Afrikanwatch administrative head of planning and execution, Sunny Atam, is the Afrikanwatch senior Consultant on new Media development and strategies, Ifeoma Njoga, is the administrative secretary, whose prowess has continued to give the news outfit commendations. Barr. Festus Ejike Nwafor, is the Abuja consultant and Deputy legal adviser while Mr. Gbenga Ojo is the Abuja correspondent. Mr. Seun Shode is the head, Design and printing, whose skills has remained a reference point in most of Afrikanwatch publications and jobs. Afrikanwatch Network has been able surround itself with men and women of values, who continued to play advisory editorial roles, they include, Mr. Joe Ejiofor, Deputy Registrar, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Oby Modebelu, of the University of Lagos, Ms. Buchi Odiatu, a motivational speaker, who is instrumental to the establishment of Afrikanwatch as a full blown media outfit, Philip Eju, a Nigerian-Mauritian base Engineer, and Engr. Isaac Eju. They have continued to provide administrative support and conflict resolution among the crew. The media outfit grandmentors and Patrons including, Sen. Athony Adefuye, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Prof. Olatunde Babawale, Prof. Timothy Atte, Prof. Andrew Obafemi, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, Dr. (Mrs) Felicia Agubata, Mrs. A.S. Anyafulu, Amb. Chief (Dr) Nzeribe Okegbue JP, Amb. (Dr) David Eke Solomon, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Chief (Barr) Benson Ndakara, Chief (Dr) Sunday Ovba, Mr. Dennis Amachree, MON, Dr. Kabir Adamu, Engr. Williams Metieh, Col. Barr. Yomi Dare rtd among others. These personalities continue to play vital roles towards the growth and development of Afrikanwatch Network. ADVISORY BOARD 1. Amb. Chief Nzeribe Okegbue Ph.D, JP, (Chairman) 2. Prof. Solomon Akinboye (Member) 3. Prof. Andrew Obafemi 4. Mr. Dennis Amachree, MON 5. Dr. Kabir Adamu 6. Dr. (Mrs) Obiageli Modebeli 7. Engr.( Mrs) Felicia Agubata, Ph.D

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