Faculty of Law Achieves 24-Hour Power Supply Through Alumnus Donation

By Daniel Nnamani and Daniel Nnam

Amid erratic power supply which Nigeria continues to grapple with, the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced the installation of solar energy which now serves as an alternative power source for the faculty. 

Speaking during an interview with the UNILAG Sun, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Abiola Sanni, SAN, explained that the faculty no longer have to battle the issue of power outages due to the donation of solar systems to the faculty by the senior pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare to commemorate his 70th birthday anniversary. 

“The first notable achievement was the commitment to provide solar energy so that we can have power 24/7. By the grace of God, our alternative energy committee delivered on that. And Pastor Tunde Bakari made that happen in commemoration of his 70th birthday,” he said. 

Prof. Sanni, however, acknowledged the critical role played by Professor Mike Adebamowo, who is a professor at the Department of Architecture and also a pastor at the Latter Rain Assembly Church. 

He further commended the efforts of the faculty energy committee headed by Professor Yemi Oke, SAN, who made the project a reality with his team. 

The dean noted that part of his vision is to restore the committee system that used to be in place before in the faculty to ensure that every issue and challenge of the faculty is properly dealt with. 

“Also, part of what we promised to do was to bring back the committee system. So, we set up about 20 committees. We have committees on student affairs, and then we have on academic welfare,” he said. 

On his other notable low-hanging fruits, Prof Sanni stated that under his leadership, the faculty has completed the rebranding of its staff lounge, which is ready for commissioning, while that of the students is also underway.

 He also added that the faculty is bringing back the tutorial system of coaching students because students, to him, are critical stakeholders in the skim of things. 

“We are focusing on the students, and we are working with them in everything that we are doing. We recognize them as stakeholders. If you talk to them, they have access to this office. And there is nothing we have done that we have not gotten their buy-in. So we are bringing back the tutorial system,” he added. 

When asked about the challenge of students from the faculty not being able to finish their degree with first-class honors, the dean noted that he is worried about the situation and that concerted efforts are being made to address it. 

“I don’t think we’ve ever had up to six first-class. This year is good because we have three, but it could be better. There have been years without any first class, but we are making a conscious effort to prepare our students better. Right from the entry point. This year, part of what we also did was to do an orientation for our students early enough. And that has not happened for some time,” Prof. Sanni said.

He noted that despite financial constraints and a shortage of academic staff, the faculty is doing its utmost best to ensure that it remains envious of other Law faculties, maintaining its glamorous status as the “incomparable Faculty of Law”.