Fashola celebrates 6 products of Uniben awarded SAN
The Minister, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN on Thursday celebrated six alumni of University of Benin who were recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The Ministry in his special key note address at the special luncheon at the University in Benin, said it is a gathering to celebrate many values and virtues that make life really worth living and which are now regrettably not in enough supply.
He highlighted that these values consist of honour, selflessness, hardwork, leadership , dedication and commitment, stressing that the six products of University of Benin ascend to leadership role in the legal profession in the year 2020 when University of Benin commemorated its 50th year of existence.
The six SANs are Chief (Dr.) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN; Mr Adedapo Osariuyime Tunde-Olowu, SA; Mr Lotanna Chuka Okoli, SAN; Mr Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, SAN; Mr Nureini Soladoye Jimoh, SAN and Mr Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN.
According to him, “If it was difficult at the time I was preferred in 2004, I can only now imagine how much more difficult it must have been.
“There are many more qualified lawyers seeking the rank and therefore the competition is immensely magnified. The conditions that I have looked at for prequalification are more stringent. For your dedication, hard work and ultimate success I doff my hat in admiration.
“To all those in UNIBEN Law Alumni who are still aspiring, the magnitude of hard work and the span of dedication it requires to succeed is not intended to deter but to challenge you to aspire. Afterall, you are the products of the great UNIBEN.
“This brings me to the next subject of my focus in this speech which is commitment. As I understand it from history, the University of Benin is the product of the farsighted and visionary commitment of men and women who sought to develop Nigeria’s human capital.
“That vision has fructified manyfold, and it is still bearing fruit as is evident from the many products of this university who have, and are still occupying positions of leadership and responsibility in the private and public spheres of our nation.
“That list is long and growing and I doubt that there could be a better tribute to the vision of the founders than what we gather to do today; to celebrate six products of University of Benin who ascend to leadership role in the legal profession in the year 2020 when University of Benin commemorated its 50th year of existence.
“Of course, the rank brings fame and privileges, but it also imposes a huge responsibility of Leadership, to be used to improve the cause of justice and enthrone law and order for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria and her people.
“You and I who are the beneficiaries of this rank must therefore always remember that we are products of Uniben. We must fly her flag proudly with our rank.
“We must not be afraid to break new grounds in the development of the law. There perhaps would be no better time than now, in the 60th year of Nigeria’s independence to practicalize the motto of our university by putting all of our knowledge to the service of our Nation.
“There are many ways to do this. But one that readily comes to mind is to offer our services in the Training and Development of the next set of Law students, Law graduates, Lawyers etc.
“For the cause of law and order, no matter how difficult it is, we must find the courage to shatter any glass ceiling that stands in our way. This is the Spirit of Uniben, where every good thing must be possible.
“The spirit paved the way for all of us, when our chairman for this event, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN broke the glass ceiling in 2000, by becoming the first law graduate of this university to take the rank. To our chairman, the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom, I say thank you for your pioneering effort.
“It is impossible to capture the essence of your pioneering effort in English, so permit me to do so in Yoruba by saying: “Tí orí kan bá sunwÍn, á ran igba.” The closest possible literal translation in English is that “when one person succeeds, it spreads a thousandfold.
“We have all benefited from your pioneering efforts, and although we are not yet one thousand senior advocates of Nigeria from the University of Benin, I believe that the day will not be far off.
“My last word today, is to especially thank Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho SAN, an outstanding alumnus of this school for continuously organizing the periodic celebration of Senior Advocates of this university year in year out, even when he himself was then not successful in his application.”
