By Wole Balogun
S.A Media to VC
Students of the faculty of Law, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and some of their lecturers recently embarked on a justice education project at designated secondary schools in Oye-Ekiti, Ilupeju-Ekiti and Concentric International School as a way of rendering one of the core duties of the University, community service.
The service, rendered pro bono, was carried out by the FUOYE Law clinic, which is an arm of the University’s Faculty of Law that provides access to justice while giving law students the opportunity to acquire hands-on skills needed for their future lawyering profession.
According to the Director of FUOYE Law Clinic, Dr Ngozi Chinwe Ole, the project was made possible by the support of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Abayomi Fasina. She added that the FUOYE law clinic is fully a member of the network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) and as such is committed to providing free access to justice to indigent members of the society.
Team FUOYE Law Clinic and some beneficiaries
The FUOYE Law clinic team was led by the Dean of Law Faculty, Prof Simon O Abifarin; a legal expert in Comparative Constitutional Law and Human Rights, Dr. Ole, a legal expert in Clinical Legal Education and Energy Law as well as Supervisors of the project, who are Mrs Adefisayo Oyedeji and Miss Bunmi Akinleye to educate the beneficiaries of the community service at the secondary schools.
The team was divided into students’ groups that chose different topics on which they dished out justice education to the beneficiaries. Group one had the topic:” Domestic and Sexual Violence Against Children”, and it comprises Adiele Lilian Chinyere, Chukwuka Chinonyerem Ihuoma ,
Olawuyi Ayodele Oluwaseun Law/2019/1032 Nwokeforo Chinwe, Ofortube Amarachi Divine, Babatunde Praise Oreoluwa, Ifeagwu Joseph Ifeanyichukwu, James Abigail Oluwabukunmi, Adebayo Phoebe Ayobami, Slyvester Ruth Blessing, Oyewole Caleb Afolayan, and Idowu Fiyinfoluwa Kemisola.
Group two had the topic: “Navigating the transition- exploring the age of criminal responsibility for young adults “, it comprises Omoru Precious Oghenefeejiro, Adebayo 𝙼𝚊rvellous, Oluwanifemi, Olatunbosun Oluwatobiloba D, Owoeye Oreoluwa F, Ayantoye Victoria O, Akinteye Kehinde M, ldowu Faidat O, Awoniyi Adesola F, Ogunbayo Lawrence O, Emmanuel Nifemi, Omosowone Oluwaseyifunmi O, ,Olayole Lincoln and Adekeye Eniola T.
Also, group three had the topic, “Criminal Behaviour in Delinquents: What the Law Says: Cybercrime As A Case Study”, its members are Olumayede Fisayo V, Obatunwase Oluwaferanmi, Faizah Isyaku H,
Oladele Praise O, Eyinlorununpe Samuel E, Afolayan Oluwafunmilola G, Aboyeji Olanike A, Adetolu Toyosi M, Oladokun John A,
Dr. Ole
Adeyemi Koroworola T, Akinboboye Olamide O, Sanyaolu Mosopefoluwa, and Ninis Winifred C.
Finally, group four had the topic, “Exploring the impact of Bullying on Teenagers: Creating A Bully-Free Environment”, members included Adedokun Adedoyin M, Adeoti Remilekun A, Ajisafe Victor O, Akinola Glory O, Akingbolu David O, Babalola John T, ldowu Andrew O, , Kuyoro Iseoluwa P, Ogunwuyi Olajumoke D, Oluyemi Pelumi , Omoloye Babatunde F, Oladoyin Ayodeji V, and Oyelade Bukunmi Oyelola.
In a chat with the University Media team on the purpose, impact and benefits of the project, Dr. Ole said: “ As the saying goes, you can only enforce a right when you are aware that you have one. The purpose of the community service is to improve access to justice by educating the secondary students on their legal rights and responsibilities in various contexts. These students are also availed with the hotlines of the law clinic in event of infraction on their rights to enable the law clinicians assist. On the other hand, law clinicians are on their part afforded the opportunity to acquire hands on lawyering skill by a-do-it yourself method under the guidance of qualified lawyers and law teachers.
“The secondary students who benefitted were elated and some of them came forward with pressing issues like bullying which the law clinicians are currently working to address. The justice education we believe was impactful as the students were thoroughly informed on diverse issues of law including sexual rights awareness, cyber crimes, criminal responsibility for juveniles and children, sexual offences, bullying and the law e.t.c.
“The benefits include an understanding of what their rights and duties are in diverse areas of law. It also created the avenue for law clinicians to identify the access to justice problems that these students have with the aim of providing lasting solutions to it,” she added.
