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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has cautioned Nigerians against unhealthy use of the cyberspace.
While maintaining that the social media space has become a place for brutality, assassination of character, and persecution of innocent Nigerians, he noted that digital thuggery and cyber- bullying pose significant threats to national security and public trust.
Olanipekun who is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos(UNILAG)made the remarks at the 56th Convocation Ceremonies of the institution, where he emphasised the importance of citizens responsibilities in protecting the rights of the ordinary Nigerians under the cybercrime laws, and called for the strengthening of the institutional frameworks by improving enforcement of cybercrime laws.
“Nigeria is not a no man’s land ,We are being ruled by Law. Nigeria is about the only country that I know that her social media space is a bedlam. You can say anything and get away with it.
“Citizens are not being protected from harassment, from brutality, from character assassination on social media. Are we not aware of the law; or we are not learning? Don’t we know what the law says?. And for those of us who have masters degrees in cybercrime, or in cyber whatever, please let us look at the law.
“Occasion like this provides an opportunity for Nigerians to offer an idea of the type of protection they have under the law. There is brutality, there is a humanity of man to man in cyberspace. There is persecution, not in terms of government persecuting the citizens, but the citizens are persecuted.”
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) used the occasion to commend president Bola Tinubu for changing the narratives in the nation’s learning landscape through his administration’s transformative reforms.
According to him, the reforms have continued to reposition the education sector as well as ensuring industrial harmony in tertiary institutions in the country.
He also applauded the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) and other
stakeholders in the academia for their collective efforts and support.
“Olanipekun said, “In the past eighteen months or thereabout, no friction or major misunderstanding has occurred between Council and any of the Unions. As for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), I particularly wish to place on record your maturity and understanding. On this podium, during the 55th Convocation Ceremonies in 2025, a year ago, I pleaded with all of us that, as parents and guardians, we should ensure that academic calendars in our universities are not truncated due to industrial actions and similar excuses.
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“In the same vein, I pleaded with the Federal Government to, as a matter of deliberate policy and utmost urgency, look into and embark on an upward review of salaries and allowances of university staff, starting with ASUU.
” I am happy to re-echo the good news, nay, relieving tidings through the concerted efforts of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, the astute and dynamic Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, and the mature leadership of ASUU, a breakthrough has now been recorded in the signing of the Renegotiation Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the ASUU— a development which remarkably brings an end to the long-drawn (re)negotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement.
“The landmark takeaways in the signed Agreement are: “40% upward review of salaries for academic staff, effective January 1, 2026, Enhanced pension benefits, ensuring Professors retire with pensions equivalent to their full annual salary at age 70; Revitalised funding model guaranteeing dedicated allocations for:Research, Libraries,Laboratories, Equipment, Staff development.”
He listed other achievements to include, “Establishment of a National Research Council, funded with a statutory minimum of 1% of Nigeria’s GDP, to strengthen research and innovation nationally. Established the requirement that only Professors may serve as elected Deans and Provosts, reaffirming the sanctity of academic leadership and tradition. The non victimisation of all parties involved in the negotiation process is scheduled for review every three years.”
Continuing, the Senior Advocate said,
“Negotiation Agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU began in 2009; coincidentally, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University of Ibadan then, the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, of which I was a member, played a key role in the negotiations with the Federal Government; however, no tangible result was achieved. Between 2009 and 2023, it was Aluta continua! as successive Federal administrations were unable to resolve the conundrum.
“What point am I trying to make? It was the Tinubu Administration, in a determined, intentional, pragmatic, and altruistic manner, that broke the ice. If I may be permitted to apply the lawyer’s lexicon, this Administration has now instituted a Charter that is revolutionising the educational sector in Nigeria. Whether one is a member of ASUU, a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of a Governing Council, a Vice-Chancellor of a University, a student in any of our tertiary institutions, or a parent or guardian, the Tinubu Administration deserves our laudable commendation for this feat.
“On behalf of the Governing Council of our University, I stand on this rostrum to say: Well done, Mr. President. In addition, our sincere commendation goes to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, a Medical Doctor, who, in less than two years of his assumption of office as Minister of Education, has changed both the trajectory and the narrative of our educational landscape, moving us closer to Canaan. And to the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, under the ebullient chairmanship of Dr. Yayale Ahmed, the entire nation owes an ocean of gratitude. Lest I forget, ASUU deserves a pat on the back for its resilience and constructive engagement.”
Olanipekun made a symbolic and far reaching annual scholarship of N500,000 to the Best Male Students across various departments of the university. He explained that the gesture was to encourage male students to pursue academic excellence and to also challenge female dominance in the academic prize awards in the university.
Eminent Nigerians, including the Minister of Education ,Dr Tunji Alausa, Chancellor of the university and Shehu of Borno, HRH Abubakar ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), Oando’s Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu, among others graced the event.
The university conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Kanu Agabi and Wale Tinubu at the ceremony.
