Legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, has charged Law students of the University of Abuja to be focused, self-discipline and self confident as they prepare to pursue their careers in various areas of the Legal Profession.
Olanipekun, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), gave the counsel on Wednesday while reacting to the honorary fellowship award conferred on him by the students body during the official opening of the Legal Year for the 2023/2024 Session. The theme of the event is; 21st Century Lawyers: Exploiting Law as the Binding Force in this Golden Age.
Commending the University’s Law Students for considering him worthy of the honour and for their painstaking effort to put a robust profile together on him, Chief Olanipekun said he achieved all he achieved because he’s diligent in his job and believe in himself and endowed with abundant grace of God.
The legal icon, who was represented by a team of Lawyers from his Wole Olanipekun & Co. led by Barr. Benjamin Nwosu, said today’s generation of Lawyers are more blessed, especially with technology which gives them easy access to books and other research works.
“Success don’t just happen, it requires a conscious effort. As budding Lawyers, you have to start the preparation for the future today. To be a successful Lawyer, you must first of all be focused, hardworking and diligent because nothing worthwhile comes easily,”
Speaking further, Chief Olanipekun commended the management of the University and the leadership of the Faculty and charged the students to always struggle to be the best to make their Lecturers proud,”
The Guest Speaker at the event, Mr. Sunusi Musa, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had spoken glowingly of Chief Olanipekun, describing him as the best thing that ever happened to Legal Profession in Nigeria.
Sunusi, who called on the students to always strive to be exceptional, pointed out that with a father-figure like Chief Olanipekun as a role model, the students have set a goal for themselves.
The senior Lawyer also advised the students to always set their priorities well, stressing that their actions today set the stage for the realization of their future aspirations and goals as Legal Practitioners.
He also charged them to shun acts and behaviours that are detrimental to positive development and image of their profession, saying that they should understand that their time at the university is a unique opportunity for them to define who and what they wanted to become.
Earlier, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah who was represented at the event by the DVC (Administration) Prof. Philip Uso Afaha, had commended the leadership of the faculty for all the efforts being made to project UNIABUJA to the world through academic excellence and educative programmes.
He said: “On behalf of our Vice Chancellor, I congratulate LASAN and the Faculty at large on this annual event. It’s evident in the appearance and conduct of students here today that you stand for excellence. I wish you all a successful legal year and urge to remain steadfast in both your studies and character,”
