Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Michael Faborode
(right) with guest of the occasion,
retired Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin.
Photo: Oluwatoyin Malik. Last week, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, put in place a forum to which retired Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin was invited to share his experiences with the upcoming students as well as the academics. Oluwatoyin Malik, who was at the gathering, reports.

IF one looks at trend among youths nowadays, it would seem as if the older generation never went through the stage. Militancy, brigandage, cultism, riot and all sorts have almost taken over the centre of the lives of the young ones.

They are not helped by the value the society has placed on getting to the top through cutting of corners. Those whose sources of wealth are unknown as well as fraudsters are praised to the high heavens and placed in positions of authority. This has, unfortunately, made honesty, hardwork, dignity and professionalism to take the back seat and, so, the youth have learnt to take steps towards reaping where they did not sow. It seems they have no one to look up to for right direction towards the right path.

However, this is not so. In spite of the spots of corrupt people on the slate of the nation, Nigeria is a country blessed with great achievers; men who have got to the highest rung of the ladder of success through a dint of hardwork, conscientiousness, patriotism and service to their fatherland.

And it is the belief of the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, that in as much as Nigeria is blessed with citizens who have made their mark and distinguished themselves in their fields, such should be brought forward to share ideas with the young and upcoming and release a spray from their taps of experience.

The belief culminated into an informal interactive session at the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge within the varsity community on Tuesday 12 February, 2008, when the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Bolarinwa Babalakin was brought from his Gbongan base to intermingle with academics and students of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Of course, the 81-year-old former justice is a renown legal luminary. This much was attested to by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Ademola Popoola in his introductory speech on the occasion. According to Prof. Popoola, the idea to bring about such a forum was mooted last year. It was agreed that the university should contact distinguished personalties around the country who have made their mark in the fields and invite them to a forum where they can share ideas to enable others tap from their wealth of experience. And the first point of call was the residence of retired Justice Babalakin.

Professor Popoola told the gathering of the attributes of Justice Babalakin who he said was a stickler to time and a disciplinarian, and is counted among Nigeria’s great men.

In his own address, the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Michael Faborode said the university is there to serve the community within which it is situated and the entire humanity. Thanking God for the progress the university has made so far, he stated that it was a rare opportunity to tap from the knowledge of a person like Justice Babalakin who is able to look back and see his children carrying on the torch.

Prof. Faborode also appreciated the postgraduate law students of the university who were present at the occasion to practically learn from the legal luminary. He also informed the audience of the contributions of the students towards the building of the moot court, the absence of which contributed to the non-accreditation of the law programme at the university a couple of years ago.

A surprise package for Justice Babalakin that evening was the invitation of Alagba Supo Kosemani, a radio presenter on the programme, Owe lesin oro. Alagba Kosemani delved into the rich world of Yoruba proverbs and their usefulness. He thrilled the audience with the interpretation of the proverbs he gave, saying such proverbs are used to reprimand, console, warn, advise, remind and settle quarrels. Kosemani described proverbs as the vehicles through which messages in words are conveyed to those they are meant for.

In his own address at the occasion, retired Justice Babalakin said he was much taken aback with the reception given him at the gathering, describing it as royal, as it was accompanied with talking drums and a man enrobed with deep Yoruba idioms and proverbs in the person of Kosemani.

He spoke on the essence of the talking drums in the olden days, revealing that important people took along their drummers to drum into their ears things that would inspire them.

He also stated that it’s the Yorubas that have the kind of music that touches one’s core so much that the one being praise-sung may burst into tears whereas one is likely to be lulled to sleep listening to an English music.

The retired justice bemoaned the loss of this culture among the young who, rather than appreciate the talking drummers, quickly give out some money and send the drummers away, regarding the sound as noise.

Justice Babalakin appreciated the management of OAU for the initiative to invite people like him, who he referred to as old testament, to come and interact with the community.

“It is a pleasure to be with good people. It is a pleasure to interact with good people. At 81, we are able to think of many things. The English man says: youth is blunder; manhood is struggle and old age a regret. At old age, one would wonder on the things done in the past with the thought ‘I could have avoided it.’

“At age 70 you are in the auctioneer’s hand. At 75, you have got the boarding pass while some are on God’s scholarship and get to 80, 85, 90 years.” He however prayed that such scholarship should go along with good health.

Justice Babalakin also had good words for the Obafemi Awolowo University. According to him, the institution’s authority is building a world in which everybody is participating. He went further: “There are many universities, but when you come to Ife (OAU), there is a difference of culture and maintenance of order.”

In his words of admonition to post-graduate law students present at the occasion, the retired justice told them not to be bothered about the misgivings woven around lawyers, as everyone needs them at one point or the other.

He advised people to limit criticism of lawyers as they are doing their work according to law. The retired justice pointed out that the only institution that had not been bastardised or dented is the judiciary. “We find that both the legislature and the presidency bring their dispute to them. It’s been a rewarding position that the Supreme Court has maintained a very good posture,” he said.

He mentioned the National Judicial Council brought in by the 1999 constitution and the role it has been playing to ensure that judges comply with the rules of the game.

“The National Judicial Council has now set up a Performance assessment of all the judges of all the courts all over the country, except the Supreme Court, whereby all judges will state the number of cases in their courts this quarter, number of judgements given, any reason for delay. This will be sent to the Performance Assessment Committee and the current Speaker, House of Representatives, is the chairman of the committee. So, there is no escape.”

He further advised the law students to be diligent. This, he said, is the mother of good luck and leads to good reward.

The responses of the people at the gathering were more of testimonies on how the retired justice had positively impacted on their lives, directly or indirectly. Those who spoke eulogised the octogenarian who they described as generous, kind-hearted and open-minded. He was also said to be a generous giver and very accommodating. It was the prayers of all that he would still enjoy more healthy years on earth to the benefit of those who come in contact with him and the Nigerian nation.