It’s no longer news that Professor Ernest Ojukwu, SAN has joined the race to lead Africa’s largest Bar. However, it seems to me , that a few are far in thought, as to what this colossus is made of.
Professor Ernest Ojukwu is a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He served as an erstwhile Dean of the Faculty of Law of Abia State University before being headhunted by the Council of Legal Education to serve as the Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Agbani Campus, Enugu.
A well lettered author, Professor Ojukwu holds to his credit a plethora of text, inclusive of that on Civil Procedure in Nigeria. That celebrated piece, asides being an authority in the Nigerian Law School, has remained a reference point for both the Bar and the Bench.
Professor Ojukwu is the Master of Clinical Legal Education in Nigeria, where he meritoriously holds a professorial chair. He revolutionized legal education in Nigeria by single handedly introducing the clinic system and structures across Nigeria, where theory meets practice, in the academic life of law students. A feat that resonates, across divide, his competence and capacity in leadership.
In collaboration with law clinics, in legal aid and prison reforms, his NGO, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI), where he holds sway as proprietor and team lead, stands tall. NULAI pioneered Nigeria’s foremost National Client Interviewing and Counseling Skills Competition which convenes together public and private tertiary institutions across Nigeria with the view of testing, enhancing and developing practical interviewing and counseling skills of law students in training. Having humbly represented my state and university in the 9th NCCC competition in 2013, I can posit without equivocality, on firsthand basis, the unending impact and influence, of that competition vis á vis clinical legal education in Nigeria.
A Teacher to teachers, Judges, Lawyers, Professor Ojukwu has undoubtedly devoted his career and life to the growth and development of lawyers and the legal profession at large. Without beating the drums, his pedigree in the industry, speaks for itself.
There’s one unique and interesting attribute of Professor Ojukwu that stands him out to the admiration of all and sundry. Wherever Ojukwu takes charge, status quo change! His aversion for convention and drive for innovation is surely one I’m yet to see in recent times. Whenever, or wherever, Professor Ojukwu steers the wheel, the concomitant effect is positive disruptions, alterations, innovations, in addition to a sound, vibrant and effective leadership. Wherever you see Ojukwu lead, you see the above, wherever you see Ojukwu lead, you see a Brand! I call it……”The Ojukwu Signature”.
Till date and in posterity, the Nigerian Law School and the prestigious Faculty of Law, Abia State University, which both bear the crest, signage, and trademark of “The Ojukwu Signature” will remain timeless testaments of his rich administrative acumen, posture and standing. Indeed, what the ‘Ojukwu Signature Bar’ will be, is best left to imagination!
Professor Ojukwu speaks law, acts law, behaves law, grows law, develops law, and, if time is not taken, I might be wrong, dreams law. He is surely of the finest brand cum blend of academic and advocate you can find anywhere in Nigeria today. Sometimes I sit in my little corner, gaze to the skies, then surrender to thoughts, what the Ojukwu led Bar will be! To drive home his penchant for the welfare of young lawyers, Professor Ojukwu already shares and leads the topical conversation on the need to place a minimum cap on remuneration of young lawyers. Having been a young and active bar leader in Aba, he is no doubt in the know, and roundly appreciates, the need for such.
To further deconstruct Professor Ojukwu’s persona conversely amounts to being economical with the truth as his aptitude cannot be described, neither can it be captured, in one breath! Within the context of Bar leadership, to pontificate that Professor Ojukwu is fit for purpose, is simply stating the obvious. At the national level, he has dutifully chaired innumerable committees and in his usual manner, delivered on set objectives.
Without mincing words, to state that the NBA and its top echelon is in dire need of ” The Ojukwu Signature” is to state the obvious. Professor Ojukwu brings to bare time-tested, age-long and richly deep experience. As a celebrated academic, active Bar man, respected litigator and seasoned administrator, Professor Ojukwu indeed holds different sides of the coin to himself, an attribute that surely stands him out, and tall, amongst the crowd!
Let’s give the NBA a different Breath!
Let’s give the NBA a different Crest!!
Let’s give the NBA the ‘Ojukwu Signature’ !!!
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Chukwuemeka Maduako
