30/10/2025
Public Lecture in honour of Papa - Joel Babatola to be delivered by Chief Bisi Akande on Friday, November 7 in Ado-Ekiti
The lecture is in honor of High Chief Dr. J.E. Babatola,(1918-2014) an eminent nationalist, Ekiti Patriot and first and second Republic politician who started his teaching career in the 30s and 40s and became a College Principal before veering into politics is slated for Friday, November 7th.
The Lecture in honour of Papa J.E.Babatola was organized by the Joel Babatola Annual Lecture Series (JOBAL) in conjunction with the Ekiti Council of Elders.
High Chief Joel Ehinafe Babatola served as a Parliamentary Secretary and Minister in charge of Local Government Affairs, Minister of Justice (Customary Courts Division), Minister of Cabinet Office (Office of Chief Obafemi Awolowo), Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Minister of Labour, Roving Secretary and Adviser to the Premier at the London Constitutional Conference, and Chairman of 1960 Independence Celebration Committee in Western Nigeria among others.
He was one of the few notable ministers in the colonial era and the First Republic who were never found liable of corrupt enrichment charges in Government. He was never jailed unlike many other politicians during various trials set up for political leaders by the military junta at the end of the first and second republic.
He was also the confidential adviser of Col. Adekunle Fajuyi as the Military Governor of Western Nigeria and one of his co-chief mourners after his assassination with Gen. Ironsi.
He survived the various political attacks at the verge of Nigeria’s independence as a faithful lieutenant of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and during his persecution for trump up treasonable felony trial.
When the military junta decided to reward his various achievements and patriotic activities, he was appointed as the only Commissioner from Ekiti Division (now Ekiti State) in the Government of Western State of Nigeria .
