Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stressed the need for stronger institutions to sustain democracy, preserve societal values and strengthen justice administration in Nigeria.
The governor stated this on Friday during the unveiling and commissioning of a Bar Centre donated to the Ondo Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ondo City by renowned legal luminary, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN.
Aiyedatiwa said enduring societies are not built solely on resources, but on institutions capable of preserving values, transmitting knowledge and safeguarding civilisation across generations.
“Societies endure not merely because they possess resources, but because they nurture institutions that preserve values and sustain civilisation,” the governor said.
He described the Bar Centre as more than a physical structure, noting that it symbolises intellectual discipline, institutional continuity, professional excellence and the enduring nobility of the legal profession.
According to him, the project reflects the importance of investing in institutions that shape society and strengthen democratic stability.
Commending Oyetibo for donating the facility to the NBA Ondo Branch, the governor described the gesture as an act of vision, patriotism and enduring service to the legal profession.
“By personally building and donating this Bar Centre, he has established a lasting monument to scholarship, professional solidarity and the advancement of justice,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The governor further described the legal profession as critical to democratic survival, warning that democracy risks losing its moral foundation without an independent and courageous legal system.
“The legal profession occupies a sacred and indispensable position in every democratic society,” he added.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening legal institutions, justice delivery and democratic governance, stressing that sustainable development can only thrive where justice is accessible, rights are protected and institutions enjoy public trust.
Aiyedatiwa also urged young lawyers to uphold excellence and integrity, expressing confidence that the Bar Centre would serve as a hub for learning, mentorship and professional growth.
In his remarks, donor of the project, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, said the centre was designed to deepen justice administration and strengthen the legal profession.
“Lawyers remain custodians of justice, defenders of the rule of law and guardians of constitutional order,” Oyetibo said.
He explained that the facility would support mentorship, intellectual engagement and professional development, with amenities including a library, conference room, cafeteria, lawyers’ lounge, FIDA office and document processing rooms.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, commended Oyetibo’s generosity and urged younger lawyers to sustain the values and legacies of the profession.
Also speaking, Justice of the Supreme Court, Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, announced the donation of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports from 2005 to 2026 to the library.
The chairman of the NBA Ondo Branch, Henry Idowu Akingbesote, described the project as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration, saying it symbolised unity, sacrifice and commitment to justice and the rule of law.
Dignitaries at the event included legal practitioners, judicial officers, traditional rulers and government officials.