The University of Ilesa (UNILESA), Osun State, has formally commissioned the newly constructed David Olatunde Agbeja Moot Court, a state-of-the-art legal advocacy and courtroom simulation facility donated by Lady Otunba Debola Osibogun in honour of her late father, Chief David Olatunde Agbeja.
The facility was officially unveiled during a ceremony held at the Faculty of Law of the institution on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with the Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, leading dignitaries to commission the building to the glory of God and the service of humanity.
The event drew eminent personalities from the academia, traditional institution, legal profession, and business community, all of whom described the project as a landmark intervention in legal education and advocacy training in the university.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, described the moot court as a major boost to practical legal education, saying the facility would significantly strengthen advocacy training and courtroom exposure for students of the Faculty of Law.
Prof. Asaolu said the project reflects the growing commitment of stakeholders and philanthropists towards supporting quality education in the institution, noting that the university had continued to witness increasing community-driven interventions despite limited government resources.
According to him, the moot court would serve as a practical learning environment where law students would sharpen their advocacy skills, legal reasoning, courtroom ethics, and oral argument techniques in preparation for future legal practice.
The Vice-Chancellor commended Lady Debola Osibogun for the donation and also appreciated the Owa Obokun for his continued support for the growth and development of the university.
He noted that several interventions, including student hostels, nursing science laboratories, entrepreneurship hubs, and optometry facilities, had also been facilitated through partnerships with individuals and community stakeholders determined to support the institution’s growth trajectory.
Speaking at the ceremony, the donor, Lady Otunba Debola Osibogun, said the project fulfilled a long-standing personal promise she made in memory of her late father more than two decades ago.
She recalled losing her father at a young age but noted that the values of discipline, integrity, excellence, and public service instilled by him remained a guiding force throughout her life.
Lady Osibogun described Chief David Olatunde Agbeja as an accomplished civil servant, banker, administrator, and community leader who contributed immensely to education and financial development in the old Western Region.
She stated that her late father played significant roles in the establishment of the old Cooperative Bank of Western Africa and also worked closely with the administration of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the implementation of the free education programme in Western Nigeria.
According to her, what originally started as a vision to build a law library eventually evolved into the construction of a fully equipped moot court facility aimed at empowering future generations of legal practitioners.
She expressed optimism that the centre would help produce highly skilled lawyers capable of advancing justice, advocacy, and ethical legal practice in Nigeria and beyond.
In his remarks, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, praised the donor for her generosity and commitment to educational development, describing the intervention as timely and impactful.
The monarch urged other well-meaning Nigerians and members of the Ijesa community to emulate such acts of philanthropy, stressing that government alone could not shoulder the growing demands of tertiary education.
Oba Haastrup also commended the leadership of the university under Prof. Asaolu, noting that the institution had demonstrated remarkable growth and academic promise despite being relatively young.
He described the moot court project as a catalyst capable of repositioning the Faculty of Law for excellence and helping the university attain national relevance in legal education.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Adeola Oluwabiyi, described the commissioning as a major milestone for the faculty, adding that the facility would expose students to modern courtroom procedures and advocacy standards.
She said the moot court would improve students’ confidence and competence in litigation, legal drafting, and appellate advocacy while strengthening the practical component of legal training in the university.
The ceremony also featured a simulated moot court session conducted by staff and students of the Faculty of Law, with invited guests participating in courtroom roles to demonstrate the practical value of the facility.
Among those who attended the commissioning were Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun being supportive of his wife alongside academics, legal practitioners, traditional rulers, students, and prominent sons and daughters of Ijesaland.
The David Olatunde Agbeja Moot Court is expected to play a strategic role in preparing the first generation of UNILESA law graduates for professional legal practice and national moot competitions.
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