For Adeyinka Moyosore Kotoye, a Learned Silk, being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) and one of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries, Saturday 16th August, 2025, was his Day of Showing as he drew a coterie of friends and associates to celebrate with him.
The occasion was the conferment of honorary Doctorate in Leadership on him by a South Africa-based Institution, Immanuel Theology Education Institute in affiliation with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative inc based in Nigeria.
Venue was Continental Suites, Abeokuta where former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the Guest Lecturer. The event climaxed a two-day Leadership Empowerment International Conference (LEIC) which pooled global leaders from over 50 nations of the world.
Kotoye, who spoke on behalf other awardees comprising 20 eminent Nigerians, said he decided to accept the honorary doctorate award to prove some naysayers wrong, adding that a honour is God-given and is a testament of value for worthy contributions to society.
Hear him: “I am aware many people have a disdain for honorary titles. They think it’s for never-do-wells. I disagree with those who have such beliefs. Today’s event is a clear demonstration of why such belief is untenable.
“It is a fantastic event. What people should bother about is having a good knowledge of the Institution or Organization conferring the award. In this case, I have been familiar with the organization for almost four years now.
“I do know that the organizers are credible personalities who do not set their focus on profiting. It is an appreciation of who they believe I am and my contributions to worthy causes. I did not pay a dime neither did they request any Kobo from me.
“This might sound unbelievable but that is exactly the fact. They demanded nothing from
me. Even from the speech of former President Obasanjo, he acknowledged the initiative and thoughtfulness of the Organization’s Founder, Prof. Olusesi Obateye for identifying worthy individuals who deserve to be honoured.
“Therefore, I align with Baba Obasanjo’s viewpoint that there’s nothing wrong in honouring people outside the academia. I do not understand why there’s so much beef for doctorate titles”.
Kotoye pledged to intensify more efforts in contributing to worthy causes for humanity and also the legal and justice system in Nigeria.
