—Inspirational Children’s Day story of the Olanipekuns
6th June 2020
“Children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” Wednesday was Children’s Day and I find no better Children’s Day story than the story of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, one of today’s high-profile lawyers, a leader seen as the “new FRA Williams” and how he inspired his children to become Senior Advocates of Nigeria through a rare fatherly act of taking his children out of school to celebrate his elevation as SAN at age 39. His two sons; Dr. Dapo and Bode Olanipekun then went on to break their father’s record, taking the coveted silk at a younger age. It is the stuff that makes a great biography and I am on it. When Chief Wole Olanipekun says his two sons are more brilliant than him, you could see it from talking to them. For three hours, I was talking to Bode Olanipekun, the Managing Partner of Wole Olanipekun and Co and he shared this childhood memoir.

My dad took the silk in July, 1991. I was eight years old. I remember clearly the day he took the silk. I was in Primary 4 at the University of Ilorin Staff Primary School. My brother was also in that school as well as one of my siblings. So my dad had come to pick us at about noon. They had just finished the Privileges Committee meeting and had communicated the news that he was one of the seven successful applicants that year. Dad wanted his family to be the first he would break the news to. My mum also joined us. I recall he took us to a restaurant, prayed, broke the news and we were all excited. I didn’t know the implication of being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The reality dawned on me at night when we were watching the NTA Network News. The only thing that made me realize this thing was a big deal was that I saw my dad’s name was Number Seven because he was youngest on the list. He became SAN at the age of 39, the youngest in that year of elevation.

At some point I was going to change my mind from studying law while I was still in school. I told my dad I didn’t feel like studying law any longer. He asked: “What is your other option?” I replied: “Economics.” I was doing very well in Economics. I was getting very good grades in Economics. So I wanted Economics.

He asked: “What was the reason?”

I replied: “I have looked at lawyers. They don’t make money on time. Economics is about figures.” I then gave him a few examples of economists in Nigeria who I thought were successful in monetary terms. I said to him: “I have looked at you lawyers, you people would strive very hard before you make it.”

Dad then sat me down to say: “Son, in life, everything is not about money. If that is the only reason you don’t want to study law, it is not justifiable. What law would guarantee would be a steady income if you are consistent in working hard.”

From then, going forward, I really never thought this was not the right thing for me. I went for my Master’s in Commercial and Maritime Law at the University of Wales, Swansea. I came back home and had the rare opportunity of working with Mike Igbokwe, SAN and Co and I was working directly with Mike Igbokwe such that by the time I was completing my NYSC, I had already crossed swords with two SANs. I had appeared in court alone against two Senior Advocates of Nigeria that I had already confronted in court and after court they called me and said: “Well done!” So I knew that the future had something that I could aspire to and Mr. Igbokwe was one of the best people to learn law from because he taught you the right things—diligence, hard work.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/father-and-sons-in-law/

Cc: Lalasticlacla, Mynd44

Bios:
1. Chief ‘Wole Olanipekun SAN

Chief Wole Olanipekun is the patriarch of the Olanipekun family. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1976 and was conferred with the title of SAN in 1991. At the time of this conferment, he was the youngest to have ever attained such a distinction. He was 40 years old. He is the founder of Wole Olanipekun & Co, a law firm which is reputed for handling several election petitions. He is married to Erelu Omolara Olanipekun who is also a lawyer. All their children are lawyers and two are Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

2. Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun SAN

Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun SAN is the 2nd SAN in the Olanipekun family. Dapo was conferred with the title of SAN in 2015. At the time of this conferment, he was also the youngest to have ever attained such a distinction. He was 35 years old. He is the Lead Partner at Esher & Makarios, a boutique law firm with offices in Abuja.

3.      Mr. Olabode Olanipekun SAN

Olabode Olanipekun SAN is the 3rd SAN in the Olanipekun family. He was conferred with the title of SAN in 2015. At the time of this conferment, Bode beat the record set by his brother by becoming the youngest to have ever attained such a distinction. He was 34 years old. He is the Managing Partner in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co.

On a related note, it is important to mention that the youngest person to attain the distinction of SAN is now Muyiwa Atoyebi SAN the son of the legal luminary Femi Atoyebi SAN.