God, Why Me?- Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola Asked

On Wednesday, the 22^nd of January, 2025, the Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola asked in awe, “God why me?!”

The occasion for this declaration was the official commissioning of ABUAD’s highly anticipated Fertility Centre—a remarkable addition to the university’s multi-system hospital (AMSH) and its growing healthcare services.

Hailed as a beacon of hope, the Fertility Centre, with its evocative tagline “Empowering Hope, Delivering Miracles,” promises to transform lives by offering world-class reproductive healthcare at an affordable cost. The centre is a significant step forward in ABUAD’s mission to provide much sought-after medical services to Nigerians, especially those facing fertility challenges.

The Chancellor emphasized the centre’s mission to offer treatment at a fraction of the cost charged by overseas fertility centres, highlighting its non-profit nature. “We are not for profit. We want to make people believe that Nigerians can make it,” he passionately stated, sharing his love for his children and his commitment to ensuring that no one is deprived of the joy of parenthood.

He also detailed AMSH’s unique approach to healthcare services in Nigeria. “Our hospital has 17 dialysis machines and 3 MRI scanners operating simultaneously. It is the only hospital in Nigeria with such facilities,” he revealed, underscoring the state-of-the-art equipment and expertise that distinguish ABUAD’s medical services across sub-Saharan Africa.

In his speech, Aare Afe Babalola urged medical professionals at ABUAD’s Multi-System Hospital to show kindness and empathy towards their patients. “You must be kind to patients. You must love them, share in their pains, and provide them comfort. Let them feel that they can still make it. Give them that hope,” he emphasized, encapsulating the compassionate care at the heart of ABUAD’s healthcare philosophy.

The event culminated in the commissioning of the Reproductive Healthcare Center and IVF Laboratory, an advanced modern facility designed to support the Fertility Centre’s mission.

Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, highlighted the centre’s potentials to reduce medical tourism by offering advanced fertility treatments at a minute fee when compared with the charges overseas.

“Here, we charge only a fraction of the cost you would pay overseas for healthcare services of this magnitude. We have advanced, high-technology equipment comparable to those in world-class hospitals,” the CMD affirmed.

He also noted the impact of the Afe Abiye (whose direct interpretation is “gives birth to live”) or simply put “safe delivery” Programme, launched on October 18, 2024, this is to honour the declaration of Afe Babalola Day in Ado-Ekiti by His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi III. Afe Abiye Centre has registered 215 women, offering free  antenatal and delivery services at AMSH and its annexes with opportunities open to accommodate more women from the Fertility Center.

The Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde, FCAI, FCArb, in her address, expressed profound admiration for the Chancellor’s ongoing contributions to society, thanking the Chancellor for his unwavering dedication to quality, transformative, education; healthcare, organic farming, and social welfare.

“You’ve given hope to those who never thought of quality education in Nigeria. You did not stop there. You have given hope to farmers seeking organic produce through Afe Babalola Agriculture Exposition (ABAEX) which has positively impacted the lives of many across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State.  Now, you are giving hope to those who had lost hope of having their own children,” she said.

She concluded by affirming that Aare Babalola’s numerous ventures answer the question, “Why me?”—a question answered by his extraordinary achievements. This is perhaps the main reason why the Founder boldly declared at the commissioning that “The university is special, the hospital is special, I am special!”

As the Fertility Centre opens its doors to the public, it represents more than a medical facility—it stands as a symbol of hope for countless families and a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership.

FROM THE VC’s DESK