A total of 20 students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos have received the Prof Omolola Jelili Scholarship Awards, with each beneficiary taking home N1 million at an event marking the 20th posthumous commemoration of former UNILAG Vice Chancellor Jelili Omotola.

The awards were presented at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium of the university, where family, legal luminaries and University officials gathered to honour Omotola, who served as the seventh Vice Chancellor of UNILAG from 1995 to 2000.

His son, Goke Omotola, disclosed that the beneficiaries spanned 100 level to 500 level students within the Law faculty, selected based on strong academic records and demonstrated financial need. Recipients included Ayorinde Fadilat, Godsgrace Babalola, Akinsipe Emmanuel, Ogunnaike Esther, Goodluck Tochukwu, Rodiah Hamid, Bello Olafimihhan and Adedayo Michael.

Goke described the initiative as a deliberate investment in the future of the legal profession and a continuation of his father's lifelong dedication to mentoring and empowering young minds. He also revealed that friends and family of the late vice chancellor renovated and upgraded the Faculty of Law's Department of Private and Property Law and the LLM lecture room to mark the Anniversary.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who attended the event, described Omotola as his "teacher, tutor, lecturer and senior who was in a class of his own," adding that Omotola never believed lawyers should be poor.

UNILAG Vice Chancellor Prof Folasade Ogunsola noted that Omotola's tenure was experienced by students and staff as a period of stability and growth, and that his expertise in Land and Property Law translated into tangible solutions, including staff housing opportunities.

"His academic acumen and influence in Land and Property Law can be seen from his analysis and critiques on the Land Use Act of 1978 from his Essays on the Nigerian Land Use Act 1978, among many works," Ogunsola stated.

The event also featured a moot and mock trial session between students of UNILAG and Obafemi Awolowo University, which UNILAG won. Other attendees included Dean of the Faculty of Law Abiola Sanni (SAN), former Attorney General of Oyo State Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, and Justices Oluwatoyin Taiwo, Razak Olukolu and Iyabo Osodi.