•A great scholar, teacher author dies at 85

The death of Prof Egerton Uvieghara, a retired Professor of Industrial and Labour Law at the University of Lagos, former chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and a former Commissioner at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission brings an illustrious career to an end. A scholar of international repute, Prof Uvieghara authored several law articles and books, one of the most prominent being: Labour Law in Nigeria; which was a handbook of sort for law students in Nigeria.

His views on industrial and labour law were most sought-after in Nigeria and internationally. He was a most welcome guest speaker on labour relations and was widely consulted by local and international organisations. Prof Uvieghara was member, six-member committee, two each representing government, employers and labour, on the reform of Nigerian Labour Laws, and the committee worked with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). They produced four draft bills which have been presented to government on collective labour relations, labour standards, occupational safety and health, and labour Institutions.

The distinguished professor was a consultant to the Federal government on the revision of the laws to establish the National Industrial Court and its functions, which culminated in a new draft bill passed by the Senate in 2005. Prof Uvieghara also participated at the Congress of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1984, which finalised the Model Law on Commercial Arbitration prepared by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, UNCITRAL, upon which Nigerian statute on arbitration was based.

Both the National Industrial Court and UNCITRAL are living testimonies of the intellectual bent of the departed professor. As a pioneer of sorts, for four decades Prof Uvieghara stood as a colossus delivering talks, lectures, seminars at local and international symposiums and expounding the domains of the industrial and labour laws in Nigeria. Throughout his stay at the University of Lagos, he was not involved in any scandal, and his footprints are indelible in what is arguably one of the best law faculties in our country.

Until a few years ago, Prof Uvieghara was still sought after as an expert on intellectual property law, an area of law that is still developing in our country. He wrote Essays on Copyright Law and Administration in Nigeria, and has been quoted in several law books and research works. At the University of Lagos, he mentored several students who have distinguished themselves and have become authorities in their fields. He supervised several doctoral theses during his academic career, and his achievements are enduring.

He was made the pioneer chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, after he had served meritoriously as Commissioner at the Nigeria Law Reform Commission. In both assignments the professor distinguished himself, and was instrumental in laying the ground work for the many achievements of the commission. A Law reformer par excellence, his works will form the bedrock for new laws and reforms in the intellectual, trade union, industrial and general labour laws for several years to come.

Prof Uvieghara who was 85, passed on early this week in London, after a brief illness. He was educated at Government College, Ughelli, and University of London. We join his family, the institutions he served and indeed Nigerians to mourn this illustrious son of our country. While his works will forever speak for him, we hope the Federal Government, in collaboration with the institutions he served will name an enduring legacy in his name.

We pray that God grant his soul eternal repose, and the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss. Goodnight Professor Everton E. Uvieghara, great son of Africa.

Nigerians will miss you.

Update news