Funsho Arogundade

The new Justice and Culture statue at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos donated by prominent art collector and philanthropist Omooba Yemisi Shyllon is unveiled

It stands at about 17 feet high at a corner in front of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos. A new imposing statue, an adaptation of the popular Lady Justice, made of bronze and installed on a pedestal of black marble with gold inscription is an African culture-inspired sculpture named Justice and Culture. The figural sculpture that is set to provoke debate on the place of culture in jurisprudence was donated by enthusiastic art collector and philanthropist, Omooba Oluyemisi Shyllon. And on 12 June, it was unveiled by another art patron and Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Hon. Justice Amina A. Augie, at a brief ceremony inside the university.

Shyllon, in his remark at the event, said the donation of the statue to the faculty went beyond merely an attempt to beautify the space, but primarily to influence how justice is symbolised.

•Mrs. Funmilayo Shyllon, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Prof. Rahman Bello and Hon. Justice Amina A. Augie

He explained that he set out in his philanthropic activities to use art to promote Nigerian identity and culture, and put the country in the map of civilisation. “We are a people with a proud past and we can return to it if we believe in what we are as a people. That is why I innovated this concept of having the symbol of Justice that will represent the true Nigerian identity. Nigerian Identity in terms of culture, identity in terms of the symbols of justice. This is Nigeria’s symbol of justice and we hope that this would influence how we symbolise justice,” Shyllon said.

Cast in bronze and standing nine feet tall, with marble basement of six feet, the statue, sculptured by a renowned artist Adeola Balogun, is embellished with different native motifs and symbols. Some of the features on the ‘Justice and Culture’ lady include the Irukere in her hand which represents the authority of an Oba (king) in Yorubaland. The Eben on her right hand represents the authority and justice of Oba of Benin and the Udu on both legs represent the culture of the Igbos, particularly those of Onitsha. The neck is beaded, while the Shuku hairdo depicts the Yoruba culture. The jigida around her waist and the Fura de nunu dress both represent the Fulani culture. “All these encapsulate the universal symbol of justice while also highlighting our native contents,” Shyllon said.

In his welcome address, Prof. Rahman Adisa Bello, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos commended Shyllon for his gesture. He noted that the university has benefited extensively from the donor’s philanthropy, especially in the Faculty of Arts where he has been sponsoring an annual creative workshop. The VC said by extending his philanthropic commitment to the Faculty of Law, the donor has shown that there is a link between law and culture. His view was shared by Justice Augie who described the statue as a testimony that God blessed Africa with unique gifts of culture and a proof that before the coming of the colonial administration, Africans had law and order rooted in culture. Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Dean of Faculty of law, University of Lagos, who invited Shyllon on to the project, said the mounting of the sculpture wasn’t accidental as the faculty has always wanted to do it. But Shyllon’s intervention was deserving, given his track record in the area of arts and philanthropy in the country.

The Justice and Culture Statue

The Dean argued that in law the culture of a people cannot be ignored and the whole idea behind the sculpture is to encourage the awareness in students that culture has a place in law. “The erection of the statue at the faculty of law was not by accident. The reason for the statue is to encourage the students and make them realize that culture is not all about dancing but that law should be a representation of our sociological values,” he said.

The unveiling of the sculpture, which underlined Shyllon’s generosity to his Alma Mata, came days after the cultural activist signed a memorandum to build and donate a multi-billion naira museum to Pan Atlantic University, Lagos. The proposed museum facility will sit at the Ajah campus of the university. He said that his family, not a rich but struggling one, decided to choose arts and culture specifically as an area of contributing to the growth of Nigeria. Also present at the brief ceremony were other eminent personalities including Prof. Yusuf Grillo; Dr Taiwo Ipaye, Registrar, Unilag; Prof. Ronke Adesanya; Mr Kolade Oshinowo; Mrs Bolanle Austin-Peters; Engineer Ayoola and Mr. Kola Banjo.