The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, announced on Thursday that it has asked Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, to address over 20,000 legal practitioners in the country about how they can help rebuild the country.
Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, President of the NBA, made the disclosure to newsmen in Abuja shortly after unveiling the logo and theme of the association’s 2024 Annual General Conference, saying there was a need for lawyers to fully understand the important role they could play in advancing the course of national development.
“The fact is that we, as lawyers, must adapt our approach to how we do things. If we are unhappy with our current situation, we must change the way we do things,” Maikyau, SAN, stated.
The NBA President emphasised that, in light of the nation’s numerous difficulties, more attorneys must accept the task of being change agents.
He stated: “Sometimes, one wonders what is truly wrong, given that Nigeria has the capacity to be the greatest country on the planet. However, our experience does not represent these potentials.
“We are all aware of our country’s many blessings and resources. Both in terms of mineral and human resources. Nigerians are known for their achievements in a variety of fields all across the world. It begs the question of what we as a country are doing wrong.
“I feel that our mindset is primarily accountable for where we are now and what we are experiencing. “This is why we’ve decided to have a tremendous personality like Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as the keynote speaker for this year’s conference. “She is a woman that has accomplished several feats; a role model and a distinguished Nigerian.”
Maikyau, SAN, noted that the topic of the 2024 NBA conference, which will be held in Lagos from August 23 to 30, would be “Pressing Forward: A National Posture For Rebuilding Nigeria.”
He stated that the NBA, which prides itself on being the world’s largest association of attorneys, carefully chose the Eagle as the symbol of its next conference.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Meanwhile, in her remarks (Okonjo-Iweala) , Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee Mrs. Oyinkasola Badejo-Okusanya stated that, while 16, 000 attorneys attended the previous NBA conference, more than 20,000 legal practitioners are expected to attend this year.
Source: vanguardngr.com
