The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun has charged the judiciary to be willing to abandon outdated practices and embrace new approaches to remain effective in a changing society.
Kekere-Ekun spoke at the combined 10th and 11th convocation lecture of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, where she delivered a lecture titled, “Beyond the Walls: Mentorship, Service, and Excellence as Foundations for Meaningful Success.”
She said considerable attention has been given to modernizing judicial processes, strengthening institutions, and deploying technology to improve the administration of justice since she assumed office.
According to her, the judiciary’s digital transformation agenda includes the development and implementation of the Nigerian Case Management System, which is expected to improve the coordination of court proceedings through electronic filing, digital case management, and better judicial information systems.
“We are working toward a justice delivery framework that is more responsive to the needs of litigants, legal practitioners, and judicial officers,” she said.
The CJN added that the judiciary is also placing emphasis on recruiting young professionals with knowledge of modern information technology to support the reform process.
She explained that the introduction of technology is not merely for innovation but is aimed at addressing practical challenges, reducing unnecessary delays, improving case management, and restoring public confidence in the justice system.
However, she cautioned that the use of technology in the courts must be supported by adequate measures to protect data, strengthen cybersecurity, and preserve judicial independence and the integrity of court proceedings.
She also identified institutional strengthening, accountability, and continuous professional development as important areas of focus, noting that judicial officers and other personnel must be equipped to respond to the growing demands of the legal and technological environment.
Speaking on the broader demands of excellence, Kekere-Ekun said individuals and institutions must constantly review their standards, stressing that what was considered adequate in the past might no longer be sufficient under present circumstances.
She acknowledged that professional life will come with disappointments, slow progress, difficult working conditions, financial challenges, and missed opportunities, but urged the graduates not to allow such experiences to discourage them.
“The important thing is to have the discipline to remain focused on your responsibilities. Do not allow temporary setbacks to determine the limits of your ambition. Equally, do not allow success to make you careless about the habits that brought you thus far,” she advised.
The Chief Justice also urged graduates preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme not to reject postings to schools on the grounds that teaching is outside their academic qualifications.
She reminded them that the scheme was established after the Nigerian Civil War to promote national unity and encourage young graduates to contribute to the country’s development, adding that national service should not be restricted by professional background or personal preference.
Kekere-Ekun said graduates should see service as a lifelong responsibility, citing examples of lawyers offering free legal assistance to indigent people, engineers applying their knowledge to solve infrastructure problems, and technology professionals developing applications to improve access to essential services.
Earlier, the chairman of the lecture and former Secretary of Afenifere, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, said the lecture had challenged the graduates to reflect on the expectations of society and their parents as they prepared to take up new responsibilities.
Arogbofa said the theme was relevant to the needs of society, adding that its lessons would help the graduates appreciate the demands of leadership and the importance of integrity.
