A Literary Tribute to Jelili Omotola

Yinka Olatunbosun

Preserving the memories of one of Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s lawyers and scholars, Professor Jelili Omotola is central to the biographical book titled “Jelili Omotola: Memories of My Father.” Written by Adetunji Omotola, the book presents a deeply rich account of the life of the late professor tracing his ancestry to Ijebu.

Documenting a life of honour, fame and controversy was the burden the author had to bear in completing this book, a first-of-its-kind to immortalise the lawyer who was a former vice-chancellor at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

Torn between protecting his father’s name and unveiling episodes of his travails at the university, the writer started the narrative by tracing his father’s lineage through history. Educating the reader about the said history of the Ijebus from South Sudan, the writer takes a painstaking effort to document his pedigree from both the paternal and maternal cleavages.

Resetting the focus on the subject of his book, he shows how the love of education was at the heart and consciousness of his late father. Leaving the audience to guess whether his father was better as a family head and scholar than an administrator of a public institution, he presents the facts by playing as the devil’s advocate. Presenting writings of others who were by-standers of history, the author who is the founder of the Guild of Nigerian Professionals, taps from sources who seemed knowledgeable about the circumstances surrounding the resignation of his father from the position of VC at UNILAG.

Drawing upon the intrigues, feuds, claims and counter-claims that are interwoven with the UNILAG saga, the author paces the story like a film editor building the conflict in the middle of the narrative. Situating himself in the timeline, the author does not try to sound like a-know-it-all. He acknowledges that many people probably knew his father than he did.

With reference to his gut feeling within his younger self, he recalls how he couldn’t comprehend some of his father’s choices- one of which was the decision to return to Nigeria in spite of a fledgling career abroad, especially in places with dearth of scholarship in legal knowledge.

Citing the example of South Africa, the writer demonstrates how his father’s renown in scholarly contributions to land laws in post-Aparthied South African is noteworthy. Using simple and accessible language, Omotola makes the memoir an easy-read, bereft of intimidating or excessive legal jargons. 

In addition to direct quotes from long-term associates of his father, the author is able to establish the influence that his father wielded in the practice of law and legal scholarship particularly in understanding and impacting reforms in property law in Nigeria as well as South Africa.

Painting a picture of a strict, workaholic father, the author gives his father the credit for his professional upbringing as well as those of others mentioned in the book.

An inspiring story of sacrifice and achievements, the memoir does not fail in highlighting issues in the Nigerian socio-political sphere including the need  to provide adequate funding for public institutions as well as building depending health infrastructure. Through this book, the writer who is also a wine consultant has curated a cocktail of personal and general history as well as culture to appeal to a wide variety of readers.