Victor Adedapo Kayode

Victor Adedapo Kayode in barrister gown
Photo: Femi Fani-Kayode website

Victor Adedapo Kayode, a pioneer Nigerian lawyer was born in 1899 to Emmanuel Adelabi Kayode, an Anglican Reverend from Ile-Ife whose education, from young age had been sponsored by the church. Victor went to the King’s College in Lagos and thereafter tutored at the Methodist Boys High School (MBHS). Among his students were Nnamdi Azikiwe, who after receiving American training, would enter politics and go ahead to become Nigeria’s first president at independence.

Victor Adedapo left Nigeria in 1917 to study at the Selwyn College, Cambridge. He returned four years later with a LLB masters degree in Law. He was called to the English Bar through the Middle Temple in 1922. In both Cambride and the Middle Temple he came tops. With Aurora Fanimokun, daughter of the illustrous cleergy, Fanimokun of the Lagos colony who he married in London in 1920, he had Remi Fani-Kayode who will repeat his feat at Cambridge 25 years later. Returing to Nigeria in 1922, Victor pursued his legal career, specializing in criminal law. In 1940 he was appointed a Magistrate, becoming one of the first Nigerians to be so elevated in the colony. His demise occurred a year later.

Contributor:
Tope Apoola
Profession: Writer