By Dennis Naku
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha, SAN, have advised young lawyers to strive to uphold professionalism and excellence.
Fubara and Okocha spoke at the annual summit of the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Forum in Port Harcourt with the theme, ‘Breaking Barriers: Creating Future Leaders in Nigeria from the Present and Next Generation of Young Lawyers’.
The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, said, “For you to take advantage of your training as a lawyer, you ensure you imbibe the virtues of learning, integrity, honesty and transparency.”
“As you exchange ideas on the theme of your annual summit, I can only wish you well and advise that you strive for excellence. One point that we need to stress is the virtue of patience. What has caused a lot of our young lawyers not to do well is the rush to make it so early.
“Nobody is saying that making it early is not an ideal thing that is worth pursuing. But you need to strive for excellence first and making it early can always follow. You cannot be a leader unless you strive for excellence in your chosen career and profession.”
On his part, the former NBA president said though young lawyers would contend with challenges, they should despair.
“So do not despair because later some of you here will assume leadership roles not only in the Nigerian bar but also in this country, and that is what your theme is actually driving at,” Okocha added.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the forum, Dr Victor Enebeli, said the objective of the summit was to foster an environment that encouraged the growth and development of young lawyers’ leadership skills.
