Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Friday performed the groundbreaking and foundation-laying of two major structures at the proposed Fortlugard University Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the planned establishment of what many described as a transformative institution for Nigeria’s educational landscape.
During the ceremony, Justice Onnoghen stressed that quality education is a collective responsibility, insisting that the government alone cannot fund or sustain a world-class educational system.
He criticized the nation’s poor spending on education, noting that the excuse that education does not yield immediate revenue is misguided and damaging to long-term development.
The former CJN praised the founder and visioner of the university, Chief James Ogwu Onoja, SAN, whom he described as an exceptionally intelligent, dogged, and development-driven legal icon. He commended Onoja’s rare foresight and resilience in pursuing an ambitious project designed to uplift future generations.
Justice Onnoghen also highlighted Onoja’s personal academic commitment, celebrating his pursuit of higher learning culminating in a doctorate degree in law. According to him, this achievement reflects the founder’s deep respect for scholarship and research.
He expressed confidence in Onoja’s capacity to build a world-class university capable of attracting international students, pioneering novel areas of academic studies, and fostering global linkages between Nigerian institutions and universities abroad.
Two major structures were unveiled during the event—the Senate Building to be named after the CJN upon completion and the Faculty of Computing.
The Senate Building, regarded as the administrative and academic brain of any university, will house policy-making organs responsible for academic governance, quality assurance, curriculum oversight, and institutional strategy.
The Faculty of Computing is expected to serve as a hub for future-ready knowledge, featuring departments such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Web Science, Data Science, and Programming. Justice Onnoghen said the facility positions Fortlugard University to lead groundbreaking research in technological innovation.
He emphasized that once the institution secures approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and begins academic activities, it will contribute solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges through cutting-edge research. “This university will not merely teach—it will innovate and solve problems,” he noted.
Justice Onnoghen called on well-meaning Nigerians, development partners, and international organizations to support the vision, describing Fortlugard University as a project that will change the landscape of tertiary education in Nigeria once operational.
The foundation-laying event attracted leading legal icons, traditional rulers, academics, and friends of the founder, who applauded the initiative as bold, timely, and visionary.
In his remarks, Chief James Ogwu Onoja, SAN, reaffirmed his commitment to establishing a globally competitive institution built on excellence, innovation, and discipline. He thanked guests for their support and pledged that Fortlugard University would meet world standards in academics and governance.
The event concluded with an air of optimism, as dignitaries described the foundation-laying ceremony as a historic step toward building a legacy institution that will impact generations and elevate Nigeria’s standing in global education.
