Ex-Supreme Court Justice, Oguntade, honoured in style as

By Lukman Olabiyi

In a society where tributes are too often reserved for farewell ceremonies, a coalition of grateful Nigerians, in partnership with the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos, chose a different script, one written in appreciation, presence and purpose.

The unveiling of a fully renovated annex lecture hall in honour of retired Supreme Court Justice, George Adesola Oguntade, was far more than a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It was a powerful declaration that excellence deserves its flowers while it still walks among us.

For years, the annex hall had borne the weight of time and neglect, leaking roofs, structural wear and uncomfortable learning conditions that challenged both students and lecturers.

Despite serving as a hub for compulsory courses central to the faculty’s academic life, the facility had gradually lost its dignity. But today, the narrative has changed.

The upgraded hall, now fitted with air-conditioning and modern installations, stands as a dignified, conducive academic environment, a physical reflection of the honour being bestowed. The transformation is both structural and symbolic: a renewal of space and a renewal of values.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Afolabi Lesi, described the institution’s Faculty of Law as one of the university’s flagship faculties, a citadel distinguished by academic rigour and an enviable alumni network.

According to him, the faculty boasts one of the highest numbers of Senior Advocates of Nigeria serving as lecturers in any law faculty in the country, a distinction mirrored in the outstanding performance of its graduates. At the most recent Bar examinations, UNILAG produced the highest number of first-class graduates nationwide.

Yet beyond the statistics and accolades, the day’s true significance lay in its timing.

“We have not gathered to celebrate him in death but in life. The reward of an eminent jurist such as Justice Oguntade is not only in heaven, but also here on earth,” Prof. Lesi declared.

For the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Abiola Sanni (SAN), the renovation carries profound academic and symbolic meaning. He recalled how years of deterioration had made teaching and learning increasingly difficult.

“The renovation has been comprehensive and professionally executed. It has restored dignity to this space and significantly enhanced our teaching environment,” he said.

In that restoration lies a deeper message: just as the hall has been renewed, so too has the institution’s culture of appreciation been refreshed.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, used the moment to advocate a broader societal shift.

“Too often, we wait until they are gone before recognising them. It is far more meaningful to honour excellence while it can still inspire,” he observed.

His words resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom are direct beneficiaries of Justice Oguntade’s mentorship and guidance.

Indeed, Justice Oguntade’s legacy extends far beyond law reports and judicial archives. It lives in the lawyers he has shaped, the discipline he has instilled, and the ethical standards he has modelled across decades of service.

Among those visibly moved was Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, one of the donors. He described the retired jurist as a mentor whose guidance transcended professional advice.

“Honouring him in this manner is a modest gesture compared to the profound impact he has had in our lives,” he said.

Perhaps the most poignant testimony came from Mr. Gbenga Ajala, who spoke on behalf of the donors.

Years ago, Justice Oguntade wrote the attestation letter that secured Ajala’s admission into the UNILAG’s Faculty of Law.

“When a jurist of his stature writes, ‘I have known him from birth,’ it instils discipline and responsibility,” Ajala recalled.

That moment of faith, once expressed in ink, has now materialised in concrete and steel.

Mobilising fellow alumni and friends, Ajala spearheaded the project not out of obligation, but gratitude.

The renovation was made possible through the generosity of distinguished alumni and donors including Ajala; Olayinka Ajenifuja, Femi Oyewole (SAN); Dayo Bush-Alebiosu; Mr. Kingsley Okpala, ; Omotayo Oyewole; Michael Ojomo; Olukayode Adegbola; Tosin Adeoye; and Afolakemi Ogunde.

Responding on behalf of the family, Chief George Oguntade, (SAN), expressed deep appreciation that the honour was being conferred during his father’s lifetime.

He described the renovated hall as a lasting investment in the education of future lawyers and a fitting tribute to a life devoted to the law.

Among dignitaries present were former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN; Prince I. Nwafuru; and members of Justice Oguntade’s family including Bose Oguntade Owuru, Mrs. Ajala, and Mrs. Adeola Ayorinde-Oguntade as well as the honouree himself.

In the end, the renovated annex hall is more than a structural upgrade. It is a moral statement.

It reminds institutions that gratitude should not be postponed. It challenges communities to celebrate their heroes in real time.

It teaches students that legacy is not merely something remembered, it is something witnessed.

As students file into the refreshed hall in the months and years ahead, they will sit beneath the name of a jurist whose life continues to shape the legal profession not as a distant memory, but as a living example of integrity, discipline and service.

And in that hall, gratitude will echo louder than applause.