The Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed the commitment of his administration to strengthening legal institutions, justice administration, and democratic governance in the state.
- +Aiyedatiwa vows improved justice administration, institutional reforms
The governor also said sustainable development can only thrive where justice is accessible, rights are protected, and institutions command public confidence.
The governor also said sustainable development can only thrive where justice is accessible, rights are protected, and institutions command public confidence.
Aiyedatiwa stated this at the unveiling and inauguration of the Bar Centre donated to the Ondo Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ondo Town by legal luminary, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), on Friday.
The statement was contained in a release issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan.
The governor said: “Our administration is committed to strengthening legal institutions, justice administration, and democratic governance.”
He added that the NBA remains an important conscience of the nation through its defence of constitutionalism, democratic values, and constructive public discourse.
Aiyedatiwa also said the legal profession occupies “a sacred and indispensable position within every democratic society,” noting that democracy risks losing its moral foundation and institutional strength without a courageous and independent legal profession.
Describing the Bar Centre project as more than a physical structure, the governor said it represents intellectual discipline, professional excellence, institutional continuity, philanthropy, and the enduring nobility of the legal profession.
“The Bar Centre embodies the timeless virtue of giving back to one’s profession and investing in the advancement of institutions that shape society,” he said.
He urged young lawyers to pursue excellence, expressing optimism that the centre would serve as “a sanctuary of learning, a citadel of professional advancement, a home for robust intellectual engagement, and a beacon of justice for generations yet unborn.”
Oyetibo (SAN), in his remarks, described the project as a significant contribution towards strengthening the legal profession and deepening the administration of justice.
He said the facility was designed to promote mentorship, professional development, intellectual engagement, and unity among lawyers, adding that it includes a reception area, hall, library, conference room, cafeteria, lawyers’ lounge, FIDA office, and document processing rooms.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), commended Oyetibo’s generosity and commitment to the legal profession, noting that senior lawyers in the South-West remained dedicated to supporting younger practitioners.
He urged young lawyers not to “drop the baton” but to sustain the ideals and legacies of earlier generations of the profession.
