For the past six years since she retired from the Bench as the Judge of the National Industrial Court, Justice Oluseun Adefolake Shogbola’s contributions to the existence remain evergreen, though she is no more holding any official post, what she has done for many homes would never be forgotten.
From any angle one chooses to look at it, Justice Shogbola is an astute jurist, administrator per excellent and indeed a reliable mother of virtue. Shogboola as fondly called is always a rallying point among friends, peers, family, colleagues, and place of worship. She’s generous, kind, and pleasant to the core.
In the past, many people have held office and no one seems to remember what they stood for simply because they only know about themselves, anything that concerns others is not in their priority, but for Justice Shogbola, life is about living for others.
Without mincing words, one would lose count including herself how many people she has helped to attain the purpose of life. From the point of her entering to the public service till her retirement in 2015, she maintained that integrity is continuous.
Recently, on wednesday 24th March, friends and family gathered in praise to appreciate God’s faithfulness in her life for clocking golden 71 years on earth. Encomiums have continued to trail her purposefulness to life and existence.
Justice Oluseun Shogbola was born on 24th March 1950, in Lagos Island to the family of Barrister Emmanuel Omotola Odulana and Mrs. Christian Tinuola Odulana (of blessed memory) a renowned educationist and the first indigenous principal of the Methodist Girl’s High School Yaba, Lagos.
She grew up with her siblings: Late Otunba Dr.( Mrs) Adetoun Adebanjo and Dr. Mrs. Oluremi-Odulana Ogundinmu and her extended families on both sides- The Odulana’s and the Osisami’s.
Little Oluseun attended St. David Anglican Primary School Lafiaji, Lagos, and proceeded to New Era Girls Secondary School, Surulere, and later attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School Ogun State for the West African School Certificate.
In clear fulfillment of destiny, the University of Lagos certified her in knowledge and Character and awarded her a bachelor’s degree in Law. She attended Nigerian Law School, Lagos after a mandatory one-year National Youth Service and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
As a child of an educationist, when her peers then seem to be satisfied with a degree, she applied and got a Master’s Degree in Law, LLM at the same University of Lagos.
Quintessentially, in 1972, she joined the service of the Federal Ministry of Works as an audit clerk and worked there till 1974 when her career trajectory veered in the direction of Industrial labour and secured a new job at the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and productivity as a labour inspector.
From there, she moved to Industrial Arbitration Panel before getting snapped up by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, as a principal registrar. She rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Registrar from 1992 to 2008.
In confirmation of her erudition to the administration of justice, she was elevated to the bench as a judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in 2008; she served with total dedication, without blemish, and gloriously retired in 2015 upon attaining the mandatory age of 65 years.
While serving as Chief Registrar of the Court, she taught Labour Law at the Department of Industrial Relation and Personnel Management, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, probono without receiving a dime from the institution but as her token contribution to the body of knowledge.
Justice Oluseun Shogbola has attended several conferences, workshops, and seminars within and outside Nigeria and a recipient of several prestigious awards, one of which is Nigeria Women in leadership Gold.
In recognition of her giant stride to the development of her community and an attestation to her lucid character and selfless service, the respected Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, the Osile of Oke Ona Egbaland conferred on her the awesome title of ‘Asiwaju Agbofinro Oke-Ona of Egba Land’ in the year 2018.
Retired Justice Shogbola is a member of the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria (FCIArb).
She is married to Dr. Jimmy Shogbola and blessed with children Rotimi Shogbola and Aramide Shogbola.
To her children, she is a mother; to her community, she is an exemplary fellow; to others, she remains their benefactor and to the downtrodden, she is justice-personified.
As we celebrate this mother of virtue, we pray Almighty God to grant her long life of joy, happiness, and prosperity.
Mama, may you never lose balance as you journey through life.
Indeed, its 71 years of God’s faithfulness.
Mama, Many happy returns.
Fatai Abiodun, an ICT Expert cum Journalist writes from Abuja.
