Alogba Charges Young Lawyers to Defend Rule of Law
Attorney General, Legal Stakeholders Hail Institution’s Rapid Rise in Legal Education
The Caleb University College of Law has recorded a historic milestone with the celebration of its pioneer graduating class and a landmark increase in its admission quota following impressive accreditation performances.
The institution marked the grand finale of its 2026 Law Week with a colourful and intellectually engaging Law Dinner held in honour of its first set of graduating students and attended by top judicial officers, senior advocates, academics, policymakers, corporate partners and members of the legal community.
A major highlight of the evening was the celebration of the pioneer class comprising 42 students, who are expected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School later this year after completing their legal studies at the university.
The grand event reflected the ceremonial culture and professional tradition associated with the legal profession, as guests were treated to an evening of scholarship, mentorship, networking and institutional reflection.
Proceedings commenced with a formal academic procession led by the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, who also serves as Co-Chair of the College Board.
Musical performances by the Caleb University Priesthood Orchestra and carefully arranged dinner sessions added elegance to the occasion, which blended academic discourse with celebration.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Law, Leadership and Legacy: Preparing Advocates for Impact,” the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, urged the graduating students to embrace the legal profession as a platform for societal transformation and justice delivery.
According to him, impactful advocacy requires preparation, discipline, integrity and ethical commitment rather than the pursuit of status or personal gain.
“The law, in its highest form, is not just about statutes and judgments—it is about the lives we touch, the rights we defend, and the society we shape,” the Vice Chancellor stated.
He added that leadership in the legal profession demands choosing integrity over expediency, preparation over improvisation and service above personal recognition.
Prof. Asikhia described the Law Dinner as more than a ceremonial gathering, saying it represents a commissioning platform for future advocates expected to shape the justice sector positively.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, commended the university for maintaining high professional and ethical standards in legal education.
He noted that the Nigerian judiciary requires lawyers trained with discipline, integrity and deep respect for the rule of law.
According to him, the institution’s commitment to rigorous legal training has positioned it as an emerging benchmark in legal scholarship and advocacy development in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, praised the university for successfully bridging classroom learning with practical professional exposure.
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to supporting institutions promoting legal excellence, reforms and professional development.
Pedro said the quality of advocacy and intellectual capacity demonstrated by the students offered renewed hope for the future of Nigeria’s justice sector.
The Vice Chancellor further emphasized that the institution remains focused on preparing students for a rapidly evolving global legal environment through experiential learning and mentorship initiatives.
Another major highlight of the evening was the recognition of the pioneer graduating students by the Acting Dean of the College of Law, Dr. Olugbenga Asaaju.
He described the successful graduation of the first set of students as evidence of institutional resilience, vision and academic excellence.
Dr. Asaaju also disclosed that the College recently achieved outstanding results during accreditation exercises conducted by the Council of Legal Education and the National Universities Commission.
According to him, the College recorded a 94.6 per cent compliance rating from the Council of Legal Education and 96.8 per cent from the National Universities Commission.
The exceptional performance earned the institution a significant increase in its admission quota from 50 to 110 students, a development regarded as a rare achievement among emerging law faculties in Nigeria.
The Acting Dean paid tribute to the Founder and Visitor to the University, Dr. Oladega Adebogun, for sustained investment in infrastructure, accreditation support and academic expansion.
The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Dr. Sophia Franklin-Abiri, expressed appreciation to the university management and institutional partners for supporting the successful hosting of the event.
Recognition also formed a key part of the celebration as deserving students and staff members received awards for academic excellence and outstanding contributions to the growth of the College.
Among the honours presented was the prestigious Dr. Olugbenga Asaaju Endowment Award for academic excellence.
The event equally featured an address by Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson, who stressed the need for innovation, human rights consciousness and engagement with emerging legal frontiers in contemporary legal education.
The institution’s growing profile in advocacy and moot court competitions was also celebrated during the evening.
Caleb University was recognised as the only West African representative at the 34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition hosted by the University of Cape Town.
The College also emerged South West zonal champions and secured third position overall at the prestigious “From Theory to Trials” moot competition held in Abuja.
In another achievement, the institution qualified for the semi-finals of a major national moot competition hosted by the University of Ilorin.
The evening also witnessed the formal swearing-in of newly elected executives of the Law Students’ Association, signaling renewed commitment to student leadership and participatory governance within the College community.
Another landmark recorded during the programme was the official launch of the Caleb University College of Law Journal aimed at strengthening legal scholarship, research dissemination and intellectual engagement with contemporary jurisprudential issues.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State was specially commended for his support toward legal education, including his recent donation of laptops to enhance digital learning and legal research among students.
Several leading law firms and corporate organisations were equally recognised for supporting the institution’s growth and professional development initiatives.
Among the organisations honoured were Pinheiro LP, Albert Akpomudje SAN & Partners, Bloomfield LP, Babatunde Ogala SAN & Co, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, May & Baker Nigeria Plc and FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC.
Principal officers of the university present at the event included Prof. Sunday Adewale, Prof. Adesola Ajayi, Mayokun Olumeru and Adeshina Abubakre.
In a statement issued after the event, the university’s Principal Information and Media Expert, Olawale Adekoya, said the 2026 Law Dinner reflects the institution’s sustained investment in experiential learning, mentorship and institutional excellence.
He stated that Caleb University remains committed to producing globally competitive legal professionals capable of driving justice sector reforms and societal transformation in Nigeria and beyond.
