Chief Wole Olanipekun Donates Law Auditorium to Babcock University
Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, donated an ultramodern law auditorium to Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, in a grand commissioning ceremony held on February 21, 2025.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Prominent legal and academic personalities gathered at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, on Friday, February 21, 2025, to witness the commissioning of an ultramodern law auditorium donated by Nigeria’s renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN.
The newly inaugurated Wole Olanipekun Law Auditorium (WOLA) stands as another testament to the philanthropic efforts of the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, who has consistently contributed to legal education and the judicial sector across the country. Chief Olanipekun has previously extended similar gestures to institutions such as the University of Lagos, the University of Ibadan, Ajayi Crowther University, and Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, among others. He has also made significant contributions to NBA Bar Centres and has built a courthouse to support the judiciary.
Dignitaries present at the event included Chief Olanipekun’s wife, Princess Erelu Omolara Olanipekun, and their children, among whom are two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Dr. Dapo Olanipekun and Bode Olanipekun. Royal fathers such as the Akarigbo of Remoland, His Majesty Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the Orogun of Okenla, Oba Dokun Abolarin, and the Olofin of Ilishan, Oba Michael Sonuga, graced the occasion. Other attendees included Archbishop Olusina Fape, Ogun State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, and Professor Roland Otaru, SAN.
Babcock University’s top officials were also in attendance to receive the distinguished guests. The university’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ademola S. Tayo, was joined by the Dean of the School of Law and Security Studies, Professor Dorcas Odunaike, along with notable faculty members, including Professor Isaac Oluwole Agbede, Professor Pius Deji Olanrewaju, Professor Bankole Sodipo, SAN, and Professor Zac Olomojobi.
The state-of-the-art 250-seater auditorium is fully equipped and designed to enhance legal education at the university. Speaking at the event, Professor Odunaike noted that since its inception in 2005, the School of Law has produced 15 sets of graduates, many of whom hold additional professional certifications from bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
In his remarks, Chief Olanipekun lauded the university’s efficient resource management and stated that his donation was an acknowledgment of its commitment to academic excellence. He described his philanthropy as a personal calling to invest in education and human capital development. Reflecting on the state of the legal profession and the nation, he expressed concern about the decline in moral and professional standards, questioning how past legal icons like Chief Rotimi Williams, QC, SAN, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, would perceive today’s legal landscape. He called on affluent Nigerians to support educational development, particularly in the legal field, to safeguard future generations.
The event culminated with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the Akarigbo of Remoland, accompanied by other royal dignitaries and esteemed guests. Attendees then toured the impressive facility before concluding the occasion with a benediction led by Bishop Olusina Fape.
