“My Biggest Lesson From This Elevation Is That Winners Don’t Quit”, Says Prof. A. Toriola Oyewo, 91-Year Old SAN-Designate

*Says He Applied For SANship Five Times
*Says If You Attempt Something And You Don’t Succeed, Try Again
*Says He Still Goes To Court And Will Keep Going

A 90-year-old professor of Law, Toriola Oyewo Ajagbe, who made the list of Senior Advocates of Nigeria for 2021 by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has said that persistence pays.

Professor Ajagbe made the list alongside ten others as academic SANs. The nine others are Professors Bankole Akintoye Sodipo, Christian Chizundu Wigwe, Ajagbe Toriola Oyewo, Rasheed Jimoh Ijaodola, Oluyinka Osayame Omorogbe, Edoba Bright Omoregie, Abiola Olaitan Sanni, Dr. Josephine Aladi Achor Agbonika and Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi.

Prof. Ajagbe, in an interview with the PUNCH Newspaper, said one thing he has learnt with this elevation to the SAN rank is that one ought not to give up, rather, one should keep trying.

He said he does not use glasses. “That is another gift from God. It is not because I did something but it is a gift from God. Aare Afe Babalola also doesn’t use glasses. The man would wake you up and say, “Toil is the word, you must struggle in life.” With strong determination and the help of God, you can achieve anything.

“One thing I have learnt with this elevation is that you don’t give up. Persistence is very important, don’t give up. If you attempt something and you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. With the help of God, but God will not come from heaven to wake you up in the morning unless you are sick. Work hard and call on God to help you, and He will do. He has been marvelous to me. I give God the glory because this award was not given to me posthumously. I wanted to excel in my profession and as an academic and God has done it. I thank Him a lot and may His name be praised. Aare Afe Babalola congratulated me and wrote in a text message sent to me. ‘Congratulations! God’s time is the best. God’s time has come. Give all glory to God.’ ” Prof. Ajagbe said

He recounted that this is the fifth time he applied for the SAN rank. According to him, he applied in 1999, 2000 and 2001 without success in spite of his publications and hard work.

He said, “This is my fifth time. I applied in 1999. Despite my publications, the award went to (the late) Prof. J. Omotola, SAN; in year 2000, I applied and it went to Mr J.K. Jegede, SAN and in 2001, it went to (the late) Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was made a SAN and this attracted the attention of newspapers. Sunday Tribune made us to understand that Gani Fawehinmi did not bag his SAN title because of his perceived exploits in the courtroom but through academic publications of Weekly Law Reports and if the number of published books and articles was the sole criterion for choosing people in the academic, the merit should have gone to Chief Ajagbe Toriola Oyewo. Gani was not in academia then but he was a very good lawyer and it went to him. I did not begrudge him. May his soul rest in peace. He discussed with me and in those days, it was only one person they would choose from the academia. It looked as if he usurped my slot then but you don’t give up. I had to present myself again and again. I was not just presenting myself but I was working very hard.”

When asked which one he values more between professional position and the SAN rank, he said he values both.

“I value the two. Number one, being a professor of Law is just like being a professor of Geography, Biology, or any of the disciplines. You were appointed because you distinguished yourself as an academic but this one, SAN is my calling. What it means is that I distinguished myself in my calling. I thank God for making it possible for me to reach the peak of my profession and my academic career. But it wasn’t easy.” the professor said

He said he still goes to court and will keep going. “If you are a lawyer and you are teaching Law and you don’t go to court, then you are not doing your calling. I have cases that I handle,” he added.