Protocol
Our Mandate
Today, I stand before you with deep gratitude and humility as I accept the weighty responsibility and honour of serving as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). This occasion is more than just a personal achievement; it is a testament to the collective will of our distinguished members and their steadfast commitment to justice, equity, and the rule of law.
The responsibilities you have entrusted to us—myself and the other members of the National Executive Committee—by electing us to lead our Association for the next two years are immense. We are profoundly grateful for your trust and confidence. The mandate you have bestowed upon us reminds us that power is granted by God, who bestows it according to His will. Therefore, we give all glory to God for granting us the grace to serve our Association at this pivotal time.
We are here today to witness the transition in the leadership of our esteemed Association—a transition that we hope will lead us into an era of greatness. Our assumption of office as National Officers of the NBA results from a free and fair election conducted by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA). In this election, we all emerged as winners; there are no losers. Therefore, I urge moderation in our celebrations and utterances as we congratulate the successful candidates and our supporters.
This is not to say that we should not celebrate our victory, which is the product of our members’ freely expressed will, but rather as a means of uniting our members after the elections to work together to tackle the significant tasks ahead of us. Let us celebrate in a way that does not further divide the Bar. The election is behind us. Now is the time to build a bar that reflects our collective ideals. We need every hand on deck.
Through this election, our association has once again proven its leadership as the foremost professional body in Nigeria, setting the standard for the nation and other professional organisations. The election also demonstrated the NBA’s commitment to presenting an exemplary electoral process whose outcome unites rather than divides our members in pursuit of our shared goals.
It was challenging to decide to compete for the NBA Presidency against my esteemed friends and colleagues, Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN, and Tobenna Erojikwe. As friends and brothers, we conducted our campaigns with mutual respect.
I commend their decorum and decency throughout the electioneering process. Now that the election is over, we must move forward as members of this noble profession and work together for the common good of the Bar and its members. I extend my hand in fellowship, inviting them to join me in advancing the NBA’s overall interests.
My Team-Mates
I extend my congratulations to the gentlemen and ladies who, alongside me, have been responsible for guiding our noble association for the next two years. Together, we now form the National Executive Committee of the NBA. It is crucial to remember that our colleagues at the Bar and the wider society expect us to elevate the Bar to new heights, as we each promised in our election manifestos.
Our commitment to a united and inclusive bar is a goal that must be realised. Our efforts should always focus on maintaining unity within the bar while propelling it forward. We must improve the welfare of our members, protect them in their professional practice, restore public confidence in our profession, and ensure that we contribute to the society that both looks up to us and have been generous to us as legal professionals.
NEWS UPDATES:
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