Sola POPOOLA
The management of the Babcock University ,Ilishan -remo ,Ogun State University has said the Wole Olanipekun Law Auditorium remains a game changer for the institution in its quest to attaining academic excellence.
The architectural masterpiece was inaugurated on Friday at the School of Law and Security Studies, Iperu campus by the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land ,Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi,,who led other traditional rulers from Ogun and Osun states to the occasion .
Speaking at the Unveiling of the magnificent edifice built in honour of the legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) ,Chief Wole Olanipekun, Oba Ajayi who is the current Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas and Chiefs described Olanipekun as one of the finest lawyers ever produced in Nigeria in Nigeria in particular and Africa as a continent.
The Akarigbo disclosed that Chief Olanipekun’s brilliance and mastery of the Law practice propelled him to also study Law .
Oba Ajayi equally used the ocassion to appeal to the University management to consider citing the proposed Faculty of Engineering in his domain in Ishagamu .
He promised that the Ishagamu community would provide landed property and other supports to ensure smooth take off of the new faculty.
The monarch therefore urged other well -to do-individuals to emulate the legal luminary in supporting education and the less priviledged Nigerians.
In his goodwill,message, Oragun, Oba Abolarin also described Olanipekun as a rare gift to Yorubaland, Nigeria, Africa and indeed humanity.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for Chief Olanipekun to enjoy long life in abundant health and in prosperity, so that he could impact more people in his act of philanthropy.
According to the first class monarch ,Wole Olanipekun has become an household name in philanthropy and legal profession.
Earlier in his address of welcome , the president and Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo described Olanipekun as a distinctive reference in generousity.
Among the dignitaries were the Oragun of Oke- Ila, Oba(Dr) Adedokun Abolarin , the Ogun State Attorney and Commissioner for Justice , Sina Ogungbade,SAN and Roland Otaru,SAN
At the colourful ceremony attended by eminent Nigerians, including senior lawyers and foremost traditional rulers from Osun and Ogun States, Professor Ademola said ” the monumental edifice is more than just a building of blocks, bricks, pillars, poles, and mortars: it is a beacon of knowledge, a hallowed chamber of law, a sanctuary for learning, and a hub for intellectual discourse.
“The value of this iconic structure to the university is unparalleled. It will enhance our academic landscape; strengthen our reputation as a centre for legal excellence, and a world-class facility that will benefit generations to come.
“For our student and faculty in the School of Law and Security Studies, this Wole Olanipekun Law Auditorium is a game-changer. It will serve as a dynamic space for lectures, symposia, moot court sessions, and legal debates, thus fostering a deeper understanding of the law and refining the advocacy skills of our future legal luminaries.
“The modernity of the facility and conducive environment will inspire both learning and teaching, empowering our students to engage with the law in ways that are both practical and transformative.
“Beyond Babcock University, this donation advances the course of quality legal education in Nigeria. It sets a precedent for private-sector support in academia and reinforces the critical role of state-of-the-art infrastructure in shaping the next generation of legal professionals. A well-equipped learning environment produces well-equipped minds, and with this facility. Babcock
University is poised to make significant contribution to legal scholarship, policy developm and justice administration in our country.
“I assure you, sir, that this auditorium will be put to the best possible use. It will not only h academic events but also serve as a venue for national and international legal forums, whe pressing legal issues can be discussed and innovative solutions can be birthed. Throu responsible stewardship, we will ensure that your vision of advancing education and professions excellence is fully realized”.
Outlining the successes recorded by the institution, the VC said “ever since the School of Law and Security Studies was established 2003/2004, it has grown in leaps and bounds. From a humble beginning of 25 students Inception, we now have about 500 students across all levels.
“Our alumni and current students have continued to make giant strides in the global space. The include but not limited to: Chioma Dibia 2022 graduate won the Best Prize in LLM Medica Inw at Liniversity of Edinburgh UK., Gabriel Okei won the prize for the Best Student in LLM Birmingham University UK, Sophia Abiri Franklin a Doctoral Graduate of Law won in 2022, th Queen Elizabeth Scholar Award at Carleton University, Canada, Nipinmi Adetunji graduate with a distinction in LLM Swansea University UK, 2022. Nifemi Adesina, a BU Law Alumnus mgraduated with distinction in International Law and Global Challenges at the University o Newcastle. She received the Overall Best Award for the LL.M programme in the 2022/202 session.
In addition ,she received the LLM Dissertation Prize, the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship and the Newcastle Law School Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship in addition to Fully funded PhD grant from UKRI, UKESRC and Newcastle University Overseas Research: Scholarship. Iremide Ajibola, Oreofuwa Atobatele, Caleb Uwagbale, Awoyomi Damilola Oluwaseun, Damilola Ebun, and Segbemi Ngozi Ede graduated with LLM at the University of Ottawa, Canada in 2023. Bond Eke-Opara graduated with LL.M from Stanford University 2023, Dapo Adeniyi, LAWSAN President (2018) obtained an LLM at Cambridge University in 2023. Also, our alumni occupy various exalted positions in top flight organisations, home and abroad: Stephen Oluwaseun Oke is Senior Legal Officer, African Development Bank, while Alao Adeleke is Partner at Dentons ACAS-Law. The list is endless.
In the 2024 Bar Examination results, out of the 100 Babcock University students that were mobilized to the Nigerian Law School, 22 of them emerged with First Class. This translates into one out of every five. Echebiri Mary-Ann Goodness won the Third Prize in Civil Litigation at the Law School final Bar examinations, Labisi Oluwatamiloreayo Elizabeth won the Third Best Student in Professional Ethics. Fifty-five Babcock LL.B graduates having passed the ICSAN Professional examination were inducted on 24th July, 2024 as company secretaries.
In his remarks ,Chief Olanipekun thanked God Almighty for the grace upon his life and for the enablement to making useful and impactful contributions to humanity.
The former chairman, Body of Benchers used the occasion to again call on good spirited Nigerians to cultivate the habits of giving back to the society .
“It is rather unfortunate that Nigeria is gradually losing her humanity, in the sense that we produce more of arm-chaired critics, some of who are obsessed with the ‘pull-down’ syndrome, than people who subscribe to or invest in humanity.
“At this juncture, may I, repeat my call to well-meaning Nigerians, even at the risk of sounding repetitive, or like a broken record, or even boring to some people, that the very essence of living is to impact life and humanity positively. In this connection, and considering our present locus, is the imperative for us to invest in education in all ramifications, right from the primary, to the secondary and up to the University or tertiary levels. Agreed, that Babcock is a private University owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, we must not forget the fact that this great Institution, as well as other private and public Universities in Nigeria need the benevolence of Nigerians, particularly, those who have received God’s benevolence.
” Let us be honest with ourselves, one does not need to be a Warren Buffett, a Bill Gates or Melinda Gates, a Chuck Feeney, a Zell Kravinsky, Dolly Parton, John D. Rockefeller, Aliko Dangote, or Mike Adenuga before he can impact meaningfully on humanity or intervene in the meteoric rise of others, without competing with the ‘money bags’
“Coming specifically to our constituency, the legal profession, I state with all humility, but with every sense of responsibility that those of us who are atop the profession presently must, of necessity and urgency, descend from our Olympian heights, and disembark from our high horses. We need to humble ourselves in order to appreciate what exactly the lower stratum of the profession looks like or experiences.
“It is a stratum that urgently needs assistance, restructuring, reinvigorating, resuscitating, reenergizing and much encouragement. It is mandatory for us to uplift that stratum as well as its occupants, including students in the various Faculties of Law across the country, as well as the failing and falling infrastructures they contend with. Otherwise, we might wake up in the nearest future to embrace the naked reality that we have no profession any more. Thus, our profession needs more well-meaning interventionists at providing the necessary wherewithal for the very fragile base level.