“A justice system is only as effective as the institutions that sustain it and the people entrusted with its administration. Laws may be enacted, courtrooms may be built and new technologies may be introduced, but unless the professionals who administer justice are continually equipped to meet changing demands, progress will remain incomplete.”
The Governor of Lagos State,Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu made this assertion on Wednesday, November 4,2026 at the official inauguration of a first of its kind Centre for Legal Studies, Research and Training held at the Ministry of Justice,Alausa, Ikeja.
Ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Governor described the establishment of the Centre as a strategic investment in professional competence, institutional knowledge and the capacity of the State’s justice system to respond effectively to the demands of a rapidly evolving society.
He noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial capital and one of Africa’s most dynamic urban centres, requires a justice system capable of providing certainty for investors, effective dispute resolution for businesses and accessible, fair institutions that protect the rights of citizens.
Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained justice sector reforms under the THEMES Plus Agenda, noting that the effective application of the law remains essential to security, economic growth, social inclusion and good governance.
He highlighted the administration’s interventions in strengthening justice delivery, including improvements in judicial infrastructure such as the commissioning of the Commercial Court at Tapa, renovation of the J.I.C. Taylor Court House and provision of residential accommodation for Magistrates and State Counsel at Ketu.
Mr. Governor also cited the elevation of the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens’ Mediation Centre to Bureau status, which has created opportunities for career advancement and strengthened administrative leadership within the Ministry, alongside the expansion of the Lagos Criminal Information System and other legislative and policy initiatives.
He explained that the Centre will institutionalise continuous professional development, encourage research into practical challenges and link legal knowledge to public service, with expectations to go beyond lectures and seminars to inform policy, strengthen professional standards, preserve institutional knowledge and produce practical solutions for better justice administration.
He urged everyone associated with the Centre to build meaningful partnerships with the Judiciary, universities, legal practitioners and other stakeholders to promote professional excellence, stating that the Centre’s success would be measured by its contribution to an efficient, accessible and responsive justice system.
Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, said the opening of the Centre for Legal Studies Research and Training (CLSRT) was “not merely the opening of another government facility” but the opening of a door to the future.
He described the Centre as the first of its kind across Nigeria, noting that a justice system that wishes to remain strong must continually educate, examine and reform itself.
The Attorney-General commended the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for the leadership under which the initiative was brought to fruition. He said the Centre fits within the administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which seeks a secure, educated, economically vibrant and socially inclusive Lagos built on strong institutions and the rule of law.
“The CLSRT will be incorporated as a not-for-profit entity, with the Ministry as a founding member alongside private partners under a public-private partnership” he said.
Pedro further stated that the Ministry will provide legitimacy, policy direction and strategic oversight, while the private sector will contribute funding, expertise, innovation and operational efficiency.
Paying tribute to his predecessors, the Attorney General noted that the names of past Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice, Solicitors-General and Permanent Secretaries are inscribed on a Roll of Honour at the Centre’s entrance. He described the Centre as a product of their service and vision.
Giving a brief introduction of the Centre earlier, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, MoJ, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, described it as a specialised facility for legal education, research and capacity building, designed to promote collaboration among the Ministry, the Judiciary, the Bar and universities.
He announced that the Ministry’s LEARN Series, its periodic training programme for law officers, will now hold at the Centre, adding that the Ministry will pursue the Centre’s corporate registration, subject to government approvals, to enable strategic partnerships and access to international legal libraries and research databases.
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony includes, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, rep by Hon. Justice Atinuke Ipaye, Perm. Sec Citizen Mediation Bureau, Mrs. Aderinsola Olanrewaju; Newly Appointed Perm Secs, Mr. Haroun Adebayo and Mrs. Folashade Orogan-Thomas, Former NBA President and Chairman Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR, OFR; Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Judges of the High and Magistrate Courts, Directors and State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice.
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