Distinguished lawyer, public affairs analyst, former legislator and peace and conflict resolution expert, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Esq., has urged graduating students of the Oba Erediauwa College of Law, Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), to place justice and the Constitution above every other consideration as they begin their legal careers.
Kuku delivered the charge during the College of Law’s Valedictory Service recently, speaking on the theme “The Nigerian State Under Siege: Sovereignty, Constitutionalism and the Imperative of National Renewal.” He warned that while Nigeria faces significant constitutional and governance challenges, the nation’s future can still be secured through justice, unity and adherence to the rule of law.
“The Nigerian State may indeed be under siege, but no siege is permanent where a people remain united by justice, sustained by hope and governed by the rule of law. Let us therefore recommit ourselves to building a Republic in which the Constitution is not merely our supreme law, but our shared national covenant; where Sovereignty is exercised with responsibility; where power is restrained by law; and where every Nigerian, regardless of circumstances, can confidently say that the State exists to protect, not to oppress,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, PhD, FAS, congratulated the graduating law students, praising their academic excellence and personal growth. “You have learnt to argue without rancour, to dissent without insult, to defend the weak against the strong, and to defend the truth even when it is inconvenient,” he said.
Describing the valedictory service as a significant milestone, he noted it was a moment to pronounce blessings that would sustain the graduates throughout their professional journey. “You are receiving today the blessing of your teachers, your families, your alma mater, and, if I may be so bold as to say so, the blessing of every Nigerian who still believes that the rule of law is the surest safeguard of our common life,” he stated.
He challenged the class to embrace five guiding principles: integrity, nation-building, honouring the privilege of service, innovation in legal practice, and maintaining a lifelong relationship with their alma mater.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling of the Igbinedion University Journal of Contemporary Law, a landmark publication designed to promote cutting-edge legal scholarship, advance research, and foster informed discourse on contemporary legal and constitutional issues in Nigeria and beyond. The journal is expected to serve as a valuable resource for scholars, legal practitioners, policymakers and students.
