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The Faculty of Law, University of Lagos erupted with competitive energy on Sunday as student-athletes from the five year groups launched their medal campaigns at the Abiola Ojo Sports Festival 2026, the most anticipated sporting event in the faculty’s academic calendar.
Organized each year to celebrate the legacy of the late Professor Abiola Ojo, a towering figure in Nigerian legal scholarship and civic life, the festival attracted a distinguished crowd of dignitaries and a groundswell of student support that transformed the venue into a cauldron of university rivalry.
Among those who graced the occasion were According to Abiola-Ojo and Tunde Abiola-Eyemembers of the professor’s family, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Abiola Sanni (SAN)and the president of the Faculty Student Association, Faronbi Oluwaseyi.
The first day of competition was led by the athletics qualifiers and the first round football matches, where the lines of form and spirits were marked.
The dean used the occasion to draw a direct line between the purpose of the festival and the values of the late professor, noting that Ojo was one of Nigeria’s pioneering business lawyers of his time and a man who never hesitated to speak the truth in difficult times.
“The professor took a position that was not popular when some worshiped the military,” Sanni said. “He stood firmly by the people. That is why, as a faculty, we cannot fail to honor his memory.”
Athletics: qualifying results
The events on the track served as the festival’s opening theater. With the finals still to come, the heats served as an initial exploratory ground, and several year groups immediately signaled their intentions.
The competition began with the track events, beginning with the women’s 100 meter heats. In the first heat, Year 3 took first place ahead of Year 5 and Year 2, while Year 4 emerged victorious in the second heat, finishing ahead of Year 1 and Year 3.
The men’s 100m heats also produced exciting performances. Year 5 topped the first heat ahead of Year 4 and Year 1, while Year 3 won the second heat and Year 5 and Year 4 finished second and third respectively.
In the 800m races, Year 2 dominated the girls’ race, followed by Years 1 and Year 3, while Year 3 took victory in the boys’ race ahead of Years 4 and Year 5.
Football: the beautiful sport brings drama
The football fields offered everything expected from a law school rivalry: tactical battles, individual brilliance and a flurry of yellow cards that will keep the disciplinary panels busy ahead of the knockout stages.
Football events also attracted a lot of attention. In the girls category, Year 5 and Year 1 battled to a goalless draw in the opening match, with Year 5’s Bunmi receiving the only yellow card of the match.
The second girls’ match between Year 4 and Year 3 ended 1-1. Nazo opened the scoring for Year 4 with an assist from Ugona, before Busola tied it for Year 3.
In the boys’ football competition, Year 5 recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over Year 1, thanks to goals from Damos and Jendor. In the match, Emmanuel and Malik from Year 1 were cautioned, along with Year 5 coach Clement.
The final football match of the day between Year 4 and Year 3 ended in a stalemate, with neither team managing to advance in a hard-fought goalless draw. Yellow cards were issued to Ayobami and Michael from Year 3, as well as Chiedu and Oloche from Year 4. Year 4 coach Marvel was also reprimanded.
With the athletics finals and the soccer elimination rounds still to come, the medal table remains open. Years 3 and 5 have submitted early claims at multiple events.
