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The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called for a justice delivery system that prioritises the fair and timely resolution of disputes over procedural technicalities, stressing that court processes must serve litigants rather than frustrate them.
Delivering the convocation lecture at the combined 10th and 11th convocation ceremony of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, the CJN said her reform efforts at both the Lagos State High Court and the Supreme Court have been driven by the conviction that the justice system must respond effectively to the needs of those who depend on it.
The lecture was titled ‘Beyond the Walls: Mentorship, Service and Excellence as Foundations for Meaningful Success.’
She revealed that the judiciary is prioritising the recruitment of young professionals with innate knowledge of modern information technology, while also strengthening the institutional framework for judicial administration, improving accountability and promoting continuous professional development.
“Court procedures should facilitate the fair and timely determination of disputes, rather than become unnecessary obstacles to the resolution of genuine grievances.
“The objective is not simply to introduce technology for its own sake. It is to address practical challenges in the administration of justice, improve the management of cases, reduce avoidable delays and strengthen public confidence in the judicial process.
“Technology must serve the administration of justice, and its deployment must be accompanied by appropriate attention to data protection, cybersecurity, judicial independence and the integrity of court processes,” she stated.
The Chief Justice emphasised that education is both a personal achievement and a social responsibility, urging graduates to apply their knowledge, creativity and professional abilities to the public good.
She cited the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a reminder that obligations to society are not determined solely by where one comes from or the opportunities available.
Kekere-Ekun called for empathy as an indispensable dimension of service, noting that professional competence must be accompanied by an appreciation of the circumstances and dignity of other people.
She urged female graduates not to allow societal expectations or limitations imposed by others to diminish their aspirations, assuring them that there is no height they cannot attain through diligence, consistency and integrity.
While expressing concern about brain drain, Kekere-Ekun urged graduates not to lose faith in their capacity to make a difference in Nigeria, emphasising the difficulties in the labour market and concerns about economic opportunity but insisting that the country’s future will be shaped by the quality of people prepared to take responsibility for it.
“Nigeria will not make the progress we desire if those equipped with knowledge, skills and opportunities choose to remain elsewhere and devote their talents exclusively to the development of other societies.
“If you choose to acquire further knowledge and experience abroad, let those experiences equip you to make an even greater contribution when you return. Come home prepared to be among the architects of the change you wish to see.”
The Chief Justice commended Chief Michael Ade Ojo, founder of Elizade University, for establishing an institution that represents an investment in the intellectual capacity, character and productive potential of generations of Nigerians, praising the university’s emphasis on producing entrepreneurial, innovative and ethical graduates.
The chairman of the lecture and former secretary of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, said the lecture has left challenges for the graduates to know what society and parents are expecting from them.
Arogbofa stated that the lecture challenged the graduates as they entered the next phase of life, stressing that it will remind and likewise inculcate in them the excess of leadership and integrity.
