The University of Lagos Faculty of Law erupted with competitive energy on Sunday as student-athletes from all five year groups launched their medal campaigns at the 2026 Abiola Ojo Sports Festival — the faculty’s most anticipated sporting event of the academic calendar.
Organised each year to celebrate the legacy of the late Professor Abiola Ojo, a towering figure in Nigerian legal scholarship and civic life, the festival drew a distinguished crowd of dignitaries and a wave of student support that transformed the venue into a cauldron of collegiate rivalry.
Among those gracing the occasion were Segun Abiola-Ojo and Tunde Abiola-Ojo, members of the professor’s family, alongside the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Abiola Sanni (SAN), and the Faculty Students’ Association President, Faronbi Oluwaseyi.
Day one of competition was headlined by the athletics heats and opening-round football fixtures, where early form lines were drawn and tempers.
The Dean used the occasion to draw a direct line between the festival’s purpose and the late professor’s values, noting that Ojo was one of Nigeria’s pioneering commercial lawyers of his era, and a man who never flinched from speaking truth in difficult times.
“Prof took a position that was not popular when some worshipped the military,” Sanni said. “He stood firmly on the side of the people. That is why, as a faculty, we cannot but honour his memory.”
Athletics: Heat Results
The track events provided the festival’s opening theatre. With finals still to come, the heats served as an early scouting ground — and several year groups immediately signalled their intentions.
Competition got underway with the track events, beginning with the women’s 100m heats. In the first heat, Year 3 claimed 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 with Year 5 and Year 4 finishing second and third respectively.
In the 800m races, Year 2 dominated the women’s event, followed by Year 1 and Year 3, while Year 3 secured victory in the men’s race ahead of Year 4 and Year 5.
Football: The Beautiful Game Brings Drama
The football pitches delivered everything expected of a law faculty rivalry — tactical battles, individual brilliance, and a flurry of yellow cards that will keep disciplinary panels busy before the knockout stages.
The football events also attracted significant attention. In the women’s category, Year 5 and Year 1 battled to a goalless draw in the opening match, with Bunmi of Year 5 receiving the game’s only yellow card.
The second women’s fixture between Year 4 and Year 3 ended 1-1. Nazo opened the scoring for Year 4 with an assist from Ugona, before Busola equalised for Year 3.
In the men’s football competition, Year 5 recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over Year 1, courtesy of goals from Damos and Jendor. The encounter saw Emmanuel and Malik of Year 1 booked, alongside Year 5 coach Clement.
The final football match of the day between Year 4 and Year 3 ended in a stalemate, with neither side able to find the breakthrough in a closely contested goalless draw. Yellow cards were issued to Ayobami and Michael of Year 3, as well as Chiedu and Oloche of Year 4. Year 4 coach Marvel was also cautioned.
With the athletics finals and football knockout rounds still to come, the medal table remains wide open. Year 3 and Year 5 have staked early claims across multiple events.