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Tag: Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun

  • Statesmanship and political leadership: A festschrift for Tinubu

    A presentation by Lagos State University (LASU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN) at the 11th Bola Tinubu colloquium.

    Premised on research and anecdotal evidence, the consensus is that Nigeria is still seriously challenged by crises of unemployment, corruption, insecurity, lack of basic infrastructure, the characterisation of critical national issues by ethno-religious colouration, and the general problem of good governance.

    Poverty is still endemic, and Nigeria is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in terms of targeting those living in vulnerable conditions, increasing access to basic resources and services, and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters. These are issues with which successive governments have battled since independence.

    What a grounded assessment of the above challenges reveals is that the dearth of leadership, and concomitantly, critical statesmanship is still very substantial in Nigeria.

    Several scholars who have explored the role that qualitative leadership and statesmanship can play in building a persistent culture of responsibility, enduring social norms, and an institutional culture of sustainability have come to the damning conclusion that the dearth of leadership has indeed become a defining challenge.

    It is against the above background that the Lagos State University deemed it necessary to bring together distinguished scholars from across different schools of thought to share perspectives on the theme: Statesmanship and Leadership in Nigeria: Analysis of Development in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

    The edited book contains 22  highly analytical peer-reviewed scholarly presentations. There are two sections to the book.

    The first section contains intellectual discourses of the problematic dimensions of the competing perspectives of Statesmanship and Leadership.

    It covers topical subjects spanning the National Question including Restructuring, Political Defection and Democratic Consolidation, Godfatherism and Political Leadership, Stomach Infrastructure and Political Culture, Historical Evolution of the Party System in Nigeria and Conflict Management in Later Democracies, and, The Institutional Challenges for Successful Electoral Management.

    The second section are a set of articles which interrogates different dimensions of Asiwaju’s political leadership brand and characterisation of aspects of the National Question.

    Two chapters examine the Bureaucracy and Media in the period 1999-2007 when Asiwaju was Governor of Lagos State teasing out important parallels and lessons for political stability and economic development.

    A glimpse into other chapters show robust discussions addressing the following: the developmental vision of Tinubu and his state-building drive; a content analysis of the Jagaban brand; the crisis of fiscal federalism in Nigeria with focus on the Tinubu-Obasanjo confrontation on creation of Local Government and the Federation Account.

    Whilst one article attempts to assess Tinubu’s contribution to pan-Africanism, two other articles attempt the psychological and sociological profiling of Tinubu as a ‘charismatic’ in a classical Weberian sense. A final article examines the place of Tinubu in the Yoruba political space.

    The authorship is a constellation of decorated scholars, with a Foreword by the Honourable Minister for Power, Housing and Works Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), a preface by distinguished Prof Peter Okebukola (OFR) and commendation by Prof Adebayo Ninalowo, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Lagos State University. This volume was carefully planned to be top notch from conception.

    This book does not pander to Asiwaju; indeed there are copious constructive criticisms aimed at offering the honoree some feedbacks.

    Why Asiwaju Tinubu

    His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a pan-African leader whose charity in public service and political leadership is already firmly rooted.

    Asiwaju is a natural curator of talents and a rallying point of what is possible in pursuit of excellence in leadership and statesmanship. Through his foresight, Lagos remains Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence. His political leadership skills continue to inspire progressive aspirations across the nook and cranny of Africa.

    In the context of epistemology and teachings, the heritage of a Bola Tinubu is neither problematic nor complex for his followers and any curious thinker to identify. Just like Marx, Bola Tinubu’s is a theory of ideas and reality. He understands the primacy of reality and the determination of ideas by reality.

    The way Tinubu started the new Lagos anchored on the notion of an overall blueprint is idealism. On the other hand, his response of looking inwards when Lagos State was seriously challenged by the decision of the Obasanjo administration to withhold the funds allocated to Local Government Councils in Lagos is reflective of the ideology of a realist.

    For this same reason, a Bola Tinubu in engaging with other nationalists will neither elevate historicist assumption nor view it as ontologically more real than current facts or the facts of experience. In this respect, beyond petty partisanship and tribalism, Asiwaju believes that if we try, we can always find the common ground that will take Nigeria beyond ill-feeling that are mostly based on misunderstanding.

    The Lagos State University seeks to leverage on the Tinubu brand and legacy to inspire current and future generations of leaders, statesmen and self-effacing visionary leaders.

    This is a prelude to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Spirit of Africa Awards and Annual Lecture Series which the Lagos State University will host later in the year.

    On behalf of our Visitor, His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governing Council, and the entire Lagos State University community, we wish His Excellency, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a happy birthday!

  • Pa Gomez was a model lawyer, say CJ, Fagbohun

    A group of lawyers, the Egbe Amofin Ni Eko, has held its first inaugural lecture in memory of Pa Tunji Gomez, who died on July 18, last year. He was 90. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports.

    LawyerS have a lot to learn from the late Pa Tunji Gomez, according to speakers at the first memorial lecture in honour of the late activist best known in legal circles as “A Matter of Conscience”.

    The late Gomez was a champion of ethics at the Bar, equality before the law, and for the good of the common man.

    Until his death last July 18 aged 90, he was in active legal practice while never missing a meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, where he belonged.

    Lawyers, under the aegis of the Egbe Amofin Ni Eko, instituted a yearly lecture in his honour.

    The First Pa Tunji Gomez Memorial Lecture was held at the Foyer of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere to mark his post-humus birthday.

    Its theme was: The Nigerian lawyer and the challenge of nation building – 2019 and beyond.

    The guest lecturer, Lagos State University (LASU) Vice Chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN), urged lawyers to be faithful to their training as the late Gomez did.

    “If lawyers are faithful to their training, the fundamental functions and purposes of law which is to establish standards, maintain order, resolve disputes, drive necessary reforms and protect liberties and rights will be served,” he said.

    Fagbohun said throughout his life, the late Gomez made strident calls for every lawyer to be prepared to question the fairness and justice of laws and policies, and not to compromise the ethics of the profession.

    “Pa Gomez desired that judicial officers will consistently fall back on rules of interpretation to distinguish one case from another in a way that can give truth to law and thereby achieve justice. Nothing can be further from the truth.

    “Rule of law will not become ingrained nor do laws begin to count until every lawyer conducts his or her affairs in accordance with the ethics of the profession.

    “It will also not amount to much if judicial officers who are called upon to interpret and administer the law do not do so with honesty and dedication to the cause of justice. This is the base of nation-building,” Fagbohun said.

    The LASU Vice-Chancellor, after citing several high-profile cases that have lasted over 10 years in court, regretted that such cases could destroy public confidence in the judiciary.

    “When citizens no longer see the legal system as a space for the achievement of justice, it exacerbates discontent, deepens inequality, corruption, social injustice, corrodes democratic principles and normative values of democracy, and prompts citizens to resort to self-help,” he said.

    Fagbohun was of the view that institutions of judiciary must be strengthened.

    “Of course, it is rare, and indeed, it will be extraordinary to expect every lawyer and judicial officer to act responsibly.

    “Consequently, there is a need to reform and strengthen relevant regulatory institutions, such as the Nigerian Bar Association and its disciplinary arm, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee in the case of lawyers; and the National Judicial Council in the case of judicial officers.

    “In this regard, I fully align with recommendations from different quarters of the need to reform the teaching of ethics in our universities and Law School; properly mainstream continuing professional development after Call to Bar; and critically consider separation of the regulatory and representative functions being performed by the Nigerian Bar Association,” he said.

    Justice Kazeem Alogba, who represented the Chief Judge of Lagos, urged lawyers to see the late Gomez as a model in the way he practiced law, dressed and carried himself.

    He said: “I had encounters with the late Gomez even as a lawyer. He says it as it is no matter whose ox is gored.”

    Justice Alogba urged lawyers to practise law with conscience as the late Gomez did, noting that some lawyers have departed from the essence of the profession.

    “The philosophy underpinning law has been thrown aside by some. If we take seriously the jurisprudential training we received, we’ll practise law as it should be,” he said.

    Decrying the conduct of some lawyers, Justice Alogba said: “I can say that the flag of honour of the legal profession is flying as half-mast. The result is that today, some are no longer respected and recognised as lawyers.”

    He criticised the manner in which some lawyers dressed, noting that some are unable to differentiate what to where to parties and to court.

    “Pa Gomez would dress neatly, conservatively and lawyerly. But today some lawyers don’t know what to wear to court and to party. Appearance matters for lawyers. Please let’s take that from Pa Gomez.

    “Honesty has been thrown away. Why not be honest and trust that God will keep you alive? Lawyers should engage in soul searching for the good of the profession and the good of the society,” the judge added.

    Former NBA president Mrs Priscilia Kuye emphasised that lawyers play critical roles in ensuring that the government abided by the rule law.

    She said: “Even the executive should obey the law because everyone is equal before the law. Lawyers should make sure the rule of law is followed. We all have a role to play to achieve a Nigeria where everyone is equal and where rights are respected.”

    She paid tribute to the late Gomez, urging lawyers to emulate his life.

    Egbe Amofin Ni Eko Chairman, Mr Martin Ogunleye, said the lecture was instituted in honour of “the legendary legal activist” to mark his post-humus birthday, having been born March 18, 1928.

    “By the lectures, which would be an annual event, we intend to raise the consciousness of lawyers to their duty to the society and encourage positive activism that would benefit the larger society,” Ogunleye said.

    Also at the event were the late Pa Gomez granddaughter Jumoke Coker, his daughter Aduke Gomez, a Life Bencher Chief M. A. Ajomale, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), the late Pa Gomez cousin Mr D. Gomez and a Lagos lawyer Mrs Tolani Ed-Adeola, among others.

  • Protect LASU, VC charges alumni association

    Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), has identified alumni associations as major stakeholders in the development of their alma mater, as members carry certificates of their institutions for life.

    Fagbohun, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, charged the LASU alumni association to be proactive and not allow anyone use the institution as a bedlam of crisis.

    “The moment for the LASU alumni to work is now. Lanre Fagbohun will go, others will go, but if you (alumni) are not working, there will be trouble.

    “The alumni must be proactive now and stop sleeping. They must not allow anyone to use LASU as a bedlam of crisis, “he said

    According to him, this is key because the university is at a stage where it competes with the very best around the globe because it is aiming at being the best.

    Read Also: VC: LASU mustn’t fall back into dark years

    Fagbohun said the competition between the institution and others earned it selection by the World Bank as an Africa Centre of Excellence recently.

    “An Africa Centre of Excellence does not permit for strikes or crises because we will be attracting foreign students, so we must be proactive and strategic.

    “LASU as an African Centre of Excellence is now viewed as a philosopher and is expected to think of the gap in the system and how to solve it,” he said.

    According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university is also hopeful of being selected in some other bids it put in for international centres.

    Fagbohun appealed to the university’s alumni association not to desecrate the institution or allow anyone do so.

    He said this was important so that LASU would not go back to its dark ages when it was synonymous with crisis.

    “Benefactors will run away from LASU if we go back to the dark ages, as no one will invest in a place where there is crisis, “he said.

    (NAN)

  • Key into digitization – Don Charges

    Key into digitization – Don Charges

    Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, on Monday advised undergraduates to seek deeper knowledge of Information Technology (IT) to attain success in the modern world.

    Fagbohun gave the advice during the matriculation of 1,112 ‎ LASU students for Sandwich Degree Programme for 2016/2017 academic session.

    The vice chancellor was represented by his deputy in charge of academics, Prof. Noah Olumuyiwa.

    “If you do not key into digitisation, you will lose out.

    “The modern world revolves around IT,’’ he said, adding that computer literacy would give a graduate an edge above his counterparts.
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    The vice chancellor also advised to the students to desist from indecent dressing, cultism, examination malpractice and other vices.

    According to him, the university will not tolerate ‎them.

    ‎“Punctuality to class must be your business; be objective, have decorum and always think of LASU because it is the brand we sell.

    “‎We must collectively market the brand to succeed,’’ he said.

    Prof. Clement Fasan, Dean, Faculty of Education, congratulated the students and gave the assurance that their results would not be delayed.

    “We have cleared a backlog of part-time students’ results,’’ he said.

    According to him, the school’s ‎system has been digitised, enabling uploading of results online.

    Fasan also assured the students that they would register with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) immediately after graduation.

    ‎‎Dr Olufemi Obayori, the Acting Dean, Students Affairs, LASU, urged the students to be careful in their associations.

    According to Obayori, there are indications that sandwich programme is a recruitment ground for cultists.

    “This is because some candidates for sandwich programme are mature individuals, dropouts or graduates of other institutions,’’ he said.

    He warned that LASU would not hesitate to expel students involved in cultism, rape, armed robbery and other criminal activities.

    Dr Abosede Oyediji of the LASU Counselling Unit urged the students to seek advice on academic and other issues when necessary.
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    Oyediji noted that many sandwich students struggled to cope with academics, family life and work pressure.

    “So, you need a counsellor to guide and encourage you,’’ he said.

    Dr Shola Oladipupo, Acting Director, Sandwich Programme, LASU, also urged the students to seek guidance at all times.

     

  • LASU suspends final year student over alleged cultism, rape

    LASU suspends final year student over alleged cultism, rape

    Mr Adeyemi Temitope, a final year Public Administration student of the Lagos State University (LASU), has been suspended from the institution.

    An official bulletin of the institution, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, stated that Temitope was being tried in a law court over alleged cultism and rape.

    The student will remain suspended pending the outcome of his trial in the court, the statement said.

    The document indicated that the suspension had been approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, based on the recommendation of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

    “The Vice-Chancellor has approved the recommendation of the Students Disciplinary Committee that Adeyemi Temitope, with Matriculation Number 100832003, be suspended.

    “Temitope, of the Department of Public Administration in the Faculty of Management Sciences, is suspended with immediate effect from the University.

    “The suspension is pending the outcome of the court judgement on the case of cultism and rape against him,’’ the publication stated.

    The university warned the suspended student to steer clear of the institution until the suspension was lifted. 

  • LASU: New acting HODs for English, Agriculture

    LASU: New acting HODs for English, Agriculture

    The appointment of Dr Oluwaseun Bello as the Acting Head, Department of English, Faculty of Arts by the Lagos State University (LASU).

    It also approved that of Dr Okubena Dipeolu as the Acting Head, Department of Agriculture in the School of Agriculture.‎

    This is contained in the university’s official bulletin obtained by journalists on Monday in Lagos.
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    It said the appointments were approved by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun.
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    ‎It said Dr Bello’s appointment would be for a period of two years, with effect from Nov. 17, 2016, to Nov. 16, 2018, as well as for Dipeolu whose appointment took effect on Nov. 21, 2016.‎
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    The bulletin stated that the V-C had congratulated them on these appointments.

  • EFCC seeks stiffer penalties for money launderers

    EFCC seeks stiffer penalties for money launderers

    The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday called for severe punishment for money launderers and other financial crime offenders to

    Magu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Faculty of Management Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, in Lagos.

    The seminar is entitled: “Money Laundering and its Impact on the Nigerian Economy: The Way Forward.’’

    He said that though the enforcement and compliance of the current money laundering Act in Nigeria was one of the best in Africa, the punishment needed to be reviewed.

    “The current Nigeria Money Laundering Act is good, but the aspect of punishment needs to be reviewed to be more severe.

    “The punishment prescribes about seven years ‎imprisonment,’’ he said.

    The anti-graft chief said that the menace had eaten deep into all institutions in the country.

    He said that 60 percent of corruption cases in the country border on money laundering.

    Magu urged various institutions in the country to partner with the anti-graft agency in its fight against corruption, describing it as “a crime against humanity’’.

    The chairman said that the “Change Mantra” of the present administration could only be achieved through the cooperation of all institutions and individuals in the system.

    “If the state governors can utilise 50 percent of their allocation properly, there will be tremendous change and transformation in the Nigeria economy,’’ he said.

    Magu, however, used the occasion to highlight the achievements of the commission in the last 12 months he assumed headship of the agency.

    He said: “There is more commitment from officials of the commission because of the current political will that gives them the freedom to perform their duty unrestricted.’’

    In his remarks, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, lauded EFCC for its good work and the successes so far recorded in spite of the obstacles hindering ‎its efforts.

    Fagbohun said that corruption should be addressed in every institution, adding, “the world is looking for governance that can add value in the true sense.”

    He urged Nigerians and established institutions to start doing things rightly if they truly desire change.

    Fagbohun said that the judiciary should be responsive to correcting errors in the society.

    “Regrettably, where the court and the legislature fail in their duty, the media is the only arm helping the masses,’’ he said.

    Fagbohun advised the media to fill the gap, where the legal and political constitutionalism had failed.

  • LASU hosts Lagos empowerment programme

    LASU hosts Lagos empowerment programme

    Ready-Set-Work, a Lagos State government- sponsored capacity building programme designed to address employment challenges in the country ended during the week at the Lagos State University (LASU) auditorium in Ojo.

    The programme sought to empower young graduates of Lagos State Government -owned institutions with the right skills and knowledge to make them compete favourably in the job market.

    The state Governor, Akinwumni Ambode, who attended the closing ceremony, granted N15.5 million seed funding to graduates with the best business ideas in addition to internship slots in Total, System Specs, Guaranteed Trust Bank (GTB), Access bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Jobberman.

    The event was also attended by the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Olufela Bank-Olemoh, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the Senior Country Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC),  Uyi Akpata and the CEO of SystemSpecs, John Obaro.

    The state Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, his Mineral Resources counterpart, Olawale Oluwo and the Managing Director of Etisalat, Matthew Wilshere, completed the list of dignitaries at the closing ceremony.

    The LASU vice chancellor in his opening remarks commended those that contributed to the success of the programme.

    The 13- week RSW began on June 18 and ended July 9.

     

  • Nigeria’s quest for environment governance

    Nigeria’s quest for environment governance

    I have read with admiration the succinct exposition of Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun in the increasingly important area of Environmental Law in this fourth inaugural lecture of the institute.

    As I would expect from a master of his craft, his analysis are deep, coherent, thought provoking and a clear guide on what Nigeria must do if she is to achieve sustainable environmental governance. As it was put in the Millennium Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in September, 2000, the law has an important role to play in freeing ‘all of humanity, and above all our children and grand children, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs’.

    As noted in the lecture, the recognition of the intersections between social and environmental problems and the desire to address the challenges posed by environmental regulations were the factors that informed the concept of ‘sustainable development’. The author underscored the fact that while it can be said that the challenges of environmental regulation are to a large extent general, empirical evidence has shown that environmental disaster risk is disproportionately concentrated in developing countries and will continue to be so for reasons of their lack of technological resources to effectively mitigate and/or adapt to environmental risks; lack of funds to develop requisite infrastructure; and non-existent or inadequate governance structures to develop, co-ordinate and mainstream necessary national policies and institutional systems.

    With specific reference to the legal framework for environmental governance in Nigeria, the author argues that the inefficiency with environmental regulation is a creation rather than the effect of the law. Under a segment titled, Patchwork of Environmental Governance Therapies, he contends that in the absence of a profound reconfiguration of the present regime, particularly in the way it has guided allocation and monitoring of responsibilities for environmental protection, there is no reason to imagine and/or expect current strategies to succeed in fostering sustainable development. He suggests a roadmap to intergovernmental cooperation and a review of the specter of environmental remedies.

    Fagbohun provides incisive analysis of different attempts by Nigeria to subject environment-related issues to various forms of legal and pseudo-legal regulations. His analysis as relate to administrative remedies, criminal sanctions and the civil liability regime reveal some potentially alarming developments to which these attempts have given rise. Premised thereon, Prof Fagbohun presents alternative vantage perspectives from which Nigeria should seek to appropriately regulate environmental issues.

    The author identified in clear terms what should be the judicial approach to a green culture, and why those saddled with responsibility for environmental decisions should give more premium to public participation.

    The great strength of this lecture is the depth of its coverage. The critical analysis of the author is without doubt invaluable to the development of this area of the law. It is a significant contribution to the field of environmental law in this country. I am particularly glad that this is coming at an important time when the National Assembly is engaged in a holistic review of the Constitution.

    I congratulate Prof Fagbohun on the lecture that he has produced and I commend it not only to those in government, but, also the public.

     

    Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

    Director – General

     

    Your Excellencies, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

    Honourable Members of State Houses of Assembly here present,

    My Lords Spiritual and Temporal, The Institute Secretary and other principal officers of NIALS here present, distinguished professors and Heads of Departments, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other distinguished members of the Bar

    Other members of teaching and non-teaching staff, our invited guests and dignitaries both from within and outside of government, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, family members here present, both nuclear and extended, gentlemen of the print and electronic media, our dear postgraduate students and other students; All other protocols duly observed.

    Preamble

    It is with humility and profound thanks that I give honour and glory to Allah for giving me this special privilege and opportunity to deliver the fourth in the series of inaugural lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. To me as an environmentalist, the number ‘4’ is quite significant: the number is closely connected to the order of the world (warmth, coldness, dryness and humidity); African traditional jurisprudence regularly makes reference to “the four corners of the earth – North, East, West and South”, in the Torah, the first use of the number “4” is found in connection with the water that flowed out of the beautiful Garden of Eden; in the mythology of creation, it signifies fullness and completion of the four stages of creation when God said1, for My glory, I have created it, I have formed it, and I have made it; there are the four Gospels – Mathew, Mark, Luke and John to the Judeo – Christian; so also, there are the four books in Islam – Torah, Zaboor (Psalms), Injeel (The Gospel), Qur’an; and the four Arch Angels Jibraeel (Gabriel), Mikaeel (Michael), Izraeel (Azrael) and Israfil (Raphael). What all these symbolize for environmental sustainability is not just the organic totality and interconnectedness of our earth, but, also the undoubted linkage of our faiths. I, therefore, see the hand of God in giving me the opportunity to address the subject-matter of Environment and Sustainability as the 4th Inaugural lecturer of this great Institute. I thank Allah for His mercies.

     

    • Fagbohun is Professor of Environmental Law and Head of Department, Akinola Aguda School of Postgraduate Studies, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos.