By Morakinyo Ogunniyi, Publisher, KAYEGBO Magazine – Ado-Ekiti
The Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr. Niyi John Olajide, was on Wednesday, October 21st, 2026, conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Honouris Causa by the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) at its historic 14th Convocation Ceremony.
KAYEGBO Magazine reports that the colourful ceremony held inside ABUAD was witnessed by KAYEGBO Publisher, Chief Morakinyo Ogunniyi, who was live at the grand finale.
The honour for the Agbeyewa Farms boss attracted glowing tributes from Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the Arole Oduduwa, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ooni of Ife, and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III.
Governor Oyebanji, who was present, described Olajide as an accomplished international businessman and a patriotic Ekiti son who has complemented government’s industrialization drive.
According to the Governor, through Cavista Holdings, parent company of Agbeyewa Farms and Glocient Hospitality, Olajide has invested millions of dollars into Ekiti economy, creating thousands of jobs and transforming the agricultural and tourism sectors.
Oyebanji specifically lauded his role in the ongoing transformation of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort into a world-class tourism destination, saying the investment will put Ekiti firmly on Nigeria’s tourism map.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, who also graced the occasion, described Olajide as an enigmatic personality whose love for his home state deserves celebration.
“I personally checked his background and I am impressed. His investments and commitment to job creation is worthy of emulation,” the Ooni said.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe, said Ekiti has for over two decades yearned for more investors like Aare Afe Babalola. He said Olajide’s emergence as a major investor will inspire more diaspora sons to come home.
Niyi John Olajide is the Founder and Chairman of Cavista Holdings with interests in technology, agriculture, hospitality, fintech and energy. He is also Founder/Chairman of Axxess, a Dallas, Texas-based home healthcare technology giant established in 2007 with operations across US, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
His business empire includes Cavista Technologies, Agbeyewa Farms – Nigeria’s largest cassava farm, Glocient Hospitality managing Ikogosi Resort, PayZeep and Matna Foods.
Beyond business, Olajide was elected Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Council on Africa in 2023. A graduate of University of Texas at Dallas, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015 and co-chaired a $750m capital campaign for the University.
According to ABUAD citation, the honorary degree is in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments as entrepreneur, investor, innovator, civic leader and philanthropist in healthcare, education, poverty alleviation and women empowerment.
Oyebanji Charges ABUAD Graduands on Innovation, dynamism at Convocation
…hails Afe Babalola’s contribution to human capital debt, nation building
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has acknowledged the significant contribution of the Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola to the development of the state by pursuing infrastructural drive and human capital development with an unmatched passion.
Governor Oyebanji, who spoke on Wednesday at the 14th Convocation ceremony of ABUAD, commended Chief Babalola’s vital support toward the completion of the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Airport.
The Governor revealed that Aare Babalola particularly funded some key facilities at the airport, including equipment for the control tower and the construction of the car park, which was instrumental in bringing the airport project to operational reality.
Speaking before an audience comprising graduands, academic leaders, and distinguished guests, Governor Oyebanji further described the Chancellor as a visionary icon whose tireless work continues to inspire youths and leaders across generations.
He used the opportunity to also laud ABUAD for maintaining its position as a leading institution of higher learning in Nigeria and across the globe by consistently topping rankings in higher education sustainability, stressing that such repeated recognition proves that ABUAD’s achievements are rooted in genuine excellence rather than temporary luck.
According to the Governor, the institution’s impact in teaching, groundbreaking research, and community service has firmly established it as a reference point for academic excellence.
Turning his attention to the graduands ,the Governor commended the students for successfully navigating the rigorous and demanding academic environment of ABUAD emphasizing that earning a degree from such a prestigious university is a significant feat.
He charged the new graduates to stand out as distinguished ambassadors and role models in their future professional endeavors. He further urged them to embrace creativity, innovation, dynamism, and adaptability as they enter an ever-changing world and labour market.
Governor Oyebanji noted that in a dynamic global environment, graduates must look beyond traditional classroom curricula and apply their knowledge to emerging fields, ensuring they remain relevant and competitive in an evolving economic landscape.
Addressing the rapidly growing influence of technology, the Governor called on the graduands to intelligently adapt to the artificial intelligence revolution as he advised them to continuously evaluate which services and skills hold value in the modern workforce, encouraging them to maintain a strong sense of curiosity and commit to lifelong learning to navigate new industry realities.
“I want to specially celebrate my father and icon, Aare Afe Babalola on the occasion of his being conferred with the honorary doctoral degree by two international universities from Canada and the United State of America.
” Even in his advanced age, he has not slowed down on his commitment to the task of making life better than he met it. It is therefore not surprising that he continues to attract recognitions and commendations from far and near, in celebration of his invaluable contributions to human capital development in Nigeria and beyond.
” In a world and a state of permanent effluxion, one needs to be creative, dynamic, adaptive and pragmatic to cope. Therefore, let the value of your degrees manifest in your ability to create, innovate and adapt your knowledge to emerging skill gaps which even the curriculum that graduated you might not have comprehensively or sufficiently envisaged.
“As the world gets led by the artificial intelligence revolution, you also need to intelligently revolutionize the reality of what services and skills get valued in the new world. In a short word, keep the antenal of your curiosity
curiosity alive and keep learning to fit in.” He stated.
In her opening speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University (ABUAD), Prof. Smaranda Olarinde reminded the new graduates that the quality education they received carries significant societal responsibilities and mandates them to lead with sound character.
Professor Olarinde stressed that the academic and moral training imparted by the institution was designed to equip students to think critically, act with unwavering integrity, and work diligently across their respective fields.
Highlighting the practical duties attached to higher learning, the Vice Chancellor called on graduates across all disciplines to embody compassion and social consciousness in their careers. She challenged engineers to prioritize safety in their designs, healthcare professionals to preserve patient’s dignity, and law graduates to steadfastly defend justice, maintaining that true individual success brings a profound duty to serve the broader community.
She expressed deep gratitude to the parents for their sacrifice, trust, and sustained financial
commitment toward their children’s development.
OLOWO HAILS CHIEF AFE BABALOLA’S VISION, CELEBRATES HIS OUTSTANDING LEGACIES IN LAW AND EDUCATION, CONGRATULATES ROYAL SIBLING, PRINCESS OYEYEMI OGUNOYE ADEDAYO WHO BAGS PHD IN HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo Land, has extolled the visionary leadership, remarkable accomplishments, and enduring legacies of the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, during the University’s convocation ceremony in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Addressing the audience during the Convocation, the Olowo commended the legal luminary for translating his vision into an outstanding World Class Institution of Higher Learning, which has earned recognition as one of Nigeria’s leading universities and an emerging force in Africa’s educational landscape.
His Majesty further praised Chief Babalola’s exceptional achievements in the legal profession, his chosen career, before venturing into education and making another remarkable impact in nation-building.
Expressing his profound admiration, the Olowo declared that he was proud of Chief Afe Babalola for his outstanding accomplishments across diverse spheres of human endeavours, describing his life’s journey as an inspiring testament to vision, excellence, determination, and purposeful service to humanity, which has etched his name in history forever.
His Majesty also expressed his joy by congratulating his younger royal sibling, Princess Oyeyemi Ogunoye Adedayo, who bagged Phd in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. kabiyesi therefore prayed that the efforts of Princess Oyeyemi shall be greatly rewarded with fruitfulness in all spheres.
