Aiyedatiwa Unveils Tayo Oyetibo Bar Centre in Ondo

The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described the donation of a Bar Centre to the Ondo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association by Chief Tayo Oyetibo, SAN as a major milestone in the advancement of the legal profession and democratic governance in Nigeria.

Speaking at the unveiling and commissioning of the Bar Centre in Ondo City on Friday, the governor commended the legal luminary for what he described as an extraordinary demonstration of generosity, vision and commitment to institutional development.

Aiyedatiwa said the imposing structure represents far more than a physical edifice, noting that it embodies intellectual discipline, professional excellence, philanthropy and the enduring ideals of the legal profession.

He praised Oyetibo for choosing “the higher path of impact, responsibility and enduring service, stressing that the donation would leave a lasting legacy for generations of legal practitioners.

“By personally building and donating this Bar Centre to the NBA Ondo Branch, he has not merely erected a structure; he has established a lasting monument to scholarship, professional solidarity and the advancement of justice,” the governor stated.

The governor also lauded the leadership and members of the NBA Ondo Branch for sustaining institutional growth and professional development, noting that enduring societies are built on strong institutions that preserve values and sustain civilisation.

“Today’s ceremony transcends brick and mortar. It is fundamentally a celebration of values. It is about honouring scholarship, rewarding integrity, immortalising excellence and affirming the timeless principle that distinction earned through service deserves enduring recognition,” he added.

Aiyedatiwa further noted that every young lawyer who passes through the facility would encounter “a silent lesson in aspiration, discipline, integrity, learning and purposeful contributions to humanity.”

In his remarks, Oyetibo described the project as a meaningful contribution towards strengthening the legal profession and deepening the administration of justice in the country.

He disclosed that the idea of his involvement in building a befitting Bar Centre in Ondo was conceived after he received the leadership of the Ondo branch of the NBA, led by its chairman, Henry Akingbesote, alongside Chairman of the Law Week Organising Committee, Remigius Akinbinu, in his office on June 13, 2025.

Oyetibo said lawyers remain custodians of justice, defenders of the rule of law and guardians of constitutional order, adding that investment in their welfare and working environment amounts to investing in society itself.

According to him, the facility was designed to promote mentorship, professional development, intellectual engagement and unity among lawyers, with features including a reception area, hall, library, conference room, cafeteria, lawyers’ lounge, FIDA office and document processing rooms.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, commended Oyetibo’s generosity and unwavering commitment to the legal profession, noting that senior lawyers in the South-West remained committed to supporting younger practitioners.

He urged younger lawyers not to “drop the baton” but to sustain the ideals and legacies established by older members of the profession.

Also speaking, Justice Moronkeji Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court appreciated the decision to dedicate the library in her honour and announced the donation of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports covering 2005 to 2026 to the library.

In his welcome address, Chairman of the Ondo branch of NBA, Henry Akingbesote, described the commissioning of the Tayo Oyetibo Bar Centre as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration pursued by generations of lawyers within the branch.

He said the centre symbolises unity, sacrifice and commitment to the legal profession and the rule of law.

Delivering a lecture at the event, a former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, urged Nigerian lawyers to embrace technology, defend democratic institutions and reinvent the profession to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world.

Dignitaries at the event included wife of the donor, Mrs Abiola Tayo Oyetibo, Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Segun Odusola, Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe of the Court of Appeal, Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Adesoji Afolabi; the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Obama Victor Kiladejo; Justices of the Court of Appeal, High Court judges, lawyers and other distinguished guests.