Olanipekun: Greatness won with honest toil

The title of this piece is extracted from verse two of the University of Ibadan (UI) anthem. It is one of the most striking lines of the anthem, underscoring the importance of achieving greatness or success through hard work and transparency. However, since this story is all about a man who achieves greatness through honest toil, it is apposite to interrogate the concept of greatness. So, what is greatness?     Greatness is a cocktail of qualities that include honesty, integrity, passion, resilience, fortitude, self-belief and strong values. All of these come together to create a uniquely strong character that consistently achieves success after success.

An English architect, Charles Fowler observes that the best teachers of humanity are the lives of great men. Without doubt, Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and  Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) remains one of the greatest men in Nigeria today. The legal colossus who turns 73 on 18 November, 2024, having been born on 18 November, 1951 at Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti state is a national figure who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, characterized by profound patriotism and unparalleled dedication to the progress of this country.

For those who may not have known, Chief Olanipekun holds the distinction of being a single lawyer who has handled cases for four Nigerian sitting Presidents back-to-back. He was a counsel to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He handled President Goodluck Jonathan’s case, President Muhammadu Buhari’s legal matter as well as the incumbent, Bola Tinubu. The list of governorship cases he has successfully defended is almost endless. What else defines the greatness of a man? In fact, having handled cases for four sitting presidents and numerous state governors is in itself a testament to his ground-breaking accomplishments.

Let me attempt to deconstruct the enigma. Chief Olanipekun, without doubt, is one of the best and brightest brains in the legal firmament in Nigeria. When it comes to jurisprudence, this former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) knows which tortoise is male, as he has been the in-and-out of almost everything experience can offer. 

He approaches his life career with deliberate intentionality, authenticity and unrelenting consistency. Consequently, he becomes a super achiever and a peak performing person. But beyond his attitude and attributes, here is a man who has demonstrated the purpose of wealth and the place of the privileged in a poor country like ours. Chief Olanipekun has used his wealth to reconstruct many awkward destinies. He has spent substantial part of his wealth to lift several thousands of people out of poverty. Perhaps this is one of the reasons there will never be a celebratory staleness of this iconic personality of all seasons. For instance, in this month, hundreds of intelligent but indigent students across the country are going to benefit from his scholarship scheme known as Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme (WOSS). He gives scholarship every year. This writer was once a beneficiary. And, the WOSS has been up and running for over 20 years.

There are many other initiatives he has embarked upon simply to alleviate poverty in the country and to empower the youth, widows and the aged. Yet, he has no political ambition. The point is that he is a generous giver and a phenomenal philanthropist who is always using his voice for kindness, his ears for compassion and his hands for generosity. Chief Olanipekun is the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Body of Benchers.

When he was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Ibadan between 2009 and 2013, he personally built a gigantic lecture theatre and donated it to signpost his tenure. He did the same thing at Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Oyo when he personally built the Vice Chancellor’s lodge. As I was writing this piece, I received his invitation to the commissioning of a newly built Wole Olanipekun Senate Building at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti.

With his famed golden voice, clear and crisp diction, royal swagger, he exudes illuminative panache and gentlemanliness, as he epitomizes excellence and embodies the values and virtues of dedication, compassion and innovation. This living legend is forthright, firm and righteous, living a life of service and sacrifice to humanity.
       
Amazingly, his is probably a house of heroes and heroines. All his children who are lawyers are in the same superlative cerebral class. Two of them are already Senior Advocates of Nigeria. One is actively involved in Chief Olanipekun’s chamber. However, getting his children involved in his legal practice simply demonstrates a strong narrative about parenting and legacy sustainability.
A happy birthday, Sir, a great man, who carries greatness lightly.
•Saanu( 08034073427) is with the University of Ibadan. [email protected]