Get Guardian on GoogleLagos State Government has inaugurated a Centre for Legal Study, Research and Training to strengthen the professional capacity of legal practitioners and promote research.
The Centre, established by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, was officially opened yesterday at the ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of efforts to build a more efficient, accessible and responsive justice system.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the facility represents an investment in professional competence, institutional knowledge and the capacity of the justice system to respond to the demands of a rapidly evolving society.
Sanwo-Olu said the effectiveness of the justice system depended not only on laws, courtrooms and technology but also on the knowledge and competence of professionals responsible for administering justice.
He noted that Lagos State needs a justice system capable of providing certainty for investors, effective dispute resolution for businesses and protection of citizens’ rights.
The governor said his administration had continued to invest in justice-sector reforms under its THEMES Plus agenda, recognising that economic growth, social inclusion, security and good governance depend significantly on the effective application of the law.
He listed some of the interventions to include improvements in judicial infrastructure, the commissioning of the Commercial Court at Tapa, the renovation of the J.I.C. Taylor Court House, and the provision of residential accommodation for magistrates and state counsel in Ketu.
He also said that the administration had upgraded the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens’ Mediation Centre to Bureau status to strengthen their operations and create opportunities for career advancement within the Ministry of Justice.
According to him, the expansion of the Lagos Criminal Information System is also part of efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen institutional coordination and enhance criminal justice administration through technology.
Sanwo-Olu, however, stressed that infrastructure, legislation and technology alone could not guarantee effective justice delivery without continuous investment in the people responsible for operating the system.
He said the new Centre would institutionalise continuous professional development, encourage research into practical challenges and strengthen the relationship between legal knowledge and public service.
The governor urged the Centre to go beyond organising lectures and seminars by becoming a platform for research and policy development, as well as collaboration among legal practitioners and other stakeholders.
He also called for partnerships with the judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), universities, development partners and civil society organisations to promote professional excellence and the adoption of best practices.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the Centre as a landmark initiative and the first of its kind within a Ministry of Justice in Nigeria.
Pedro said its establishment demonstrated the state government’s commitment to investing in knowledge, professional capacity and the future of justice administration.
He said the centre was designed to provide opportunities for legal education, research, professional development and capacity building, adding that its significance would become more evident with time.
The Attorney-General also commended past Attorneys-General, Commissioners for Justice, Solicitors-General and Permanent Secretaries whose contributions, he said, had helped build the ministry into the institution it is today.
In his address, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Hameed Oyenuga, said the Centre would serve as a specialised institution for legal education, research, professional development and the advancement of knowledge within the justice sector.
