While disclosing the results yesterday evening via a public statement duly signed by Senator Tunde Akingbondere, the Chair, Organising Committee, it clarified that the legacy project as competition was initiated to promote the unbeatable legacies of a renowned lawyer, writer and human rights activist, Tope Temokun Esq.
The literary contest, though meant strictly for students studying law at the prestigious Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba – Akoko, Ondo State; is a platform for young legal intellects to express themselves coherently in writing – while at the same time taking into account the varying cases of gross fundamental rights abuses in Nigeria. The participants also had the burden to recommend long-term practical solutions.
In its release titled, “OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF WINNING AND LONG-LISTED ESSAYS, the committee said:
“This information refers for the above-mentioned competition.”
“As a rejoinder to our earlier published statement, disclosing the formal closure of our portal against further entries on the proposed legal topic, ‘FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION: MYTH OR REALITY, we write to inform you of the final release of the results.”
“Our team of professional judges were faced with the challenge of addressing the 15 quality entries sent in by students of the Law Students’ Society, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. This is without a modicum of prejudice or favouritism on the part of the judges who championed the Independent assessment of the many legal standpoints.”
“The rigorous and long process of producing the winning essays was necessary. It went a long way in impacting the quality of judgements and essays emerging from the competition. The organisers also reserve the right to give their award at the time they deem convenient.”
“The Festus Ogun and Olofinte Mary – led team of impartial judges resolved in favour of two students. The essays turned in by the two winning students were particularly noted for their rich content and blunt exploration of contemporary human right issues. They became notorious for the sterling legal diction and word fuse – the two made the writing easy and the toast of the judges.”
“Interestingly, they were laced with bold recommendations on how best to tackle the various cases of human right abuses in Nigeria. Virtually all the participants were penalized for writing beyond the stipulated number of words.”
“Find below the breakdown of both the winning and long-listed essays:
STAR PRIZE WINNER
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION: MYTH OR REALITY BY ABIOYE HAMMED (400L) – 77 POINTS
RUNNER UP
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION: MYTH OR REALITY BY SAMUEL FOLORUNSHO (400L) – 65points
LONG LIST
AKINSEYE SIMILOLUWA – 62points
OGUNFUNMINNIYI TOBI – 59points
ANONYMOUS – 54points.”
“We write to congratulate the brains behind the winning and long-listed essays, for donning the hat of excellence and showing themselves approved at the end of the competitive process. All the participants have also done well. It takes more than courage to enter written essays for competitions.”
“You are enjoined to go all out with the badge of literary excellence you have sown yourselves and put up symbolic appearances in the perrenial struggle against the different human right abuses in your country. By doing this, you are becoming good ambassadors of the unbeatable legacy initiated by the sponsor of the competition.”
“The sponsor, Tope Temokun, is a fire-brand activist and public interest lawyer with many years of active legal practice in Lagos, Abuja, Ondo and Ogun States. The accomplished lawyer and Managing Partner, Temokun & Temokun Chambers (in Ondo and Lagos), has indulged in several human rights and anti-establishment battles – the latest being the one against the Ondo State Government (in the interest of a poor amputee directly shot in the leg by an overzealous officer of the Amotekun security outfit). He likes to meet with and directly mentor the winners of the maiden essay.”
“The award date and form will be duly communicated.
(citizen rapporteur)