The candidature of Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN and former Deputy Director-General Nigerian Law Schools is among many other candidates that offers themselves to lead the NBA come 2018, is good news to Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Considering his many positive pedigrees both at the Bar and Nigerian Law School, his many contributions to the bar and easy to reach nature both in times of holding government positions and in times he is out of it, makes him a leader that stands shoulder higher than other candidates. For instance, as Deputy Director-General of Nigerian Law School, Justice Augustine Nnamani Agbani campus Enugu, within 2001, 2002 etc, there were catalogues of students qualified but awaiting to be admitted into the Nigerian Law Schools. Going by his experience as then Dean faculty of Law Abia State University (ABSU) and his concern for those students whom where depressed on seeing their future at stake, prof assisted the Director-General Tahir to clear the backlogged of students by helping to design a method that eased out the challenges and got them admitted in the Law School. The then DG poured encomium on him for such worthy sacrifice. In handling his students, Prof, ensured that the best methodology was employed in handling these growing legal minds that would later become judges, governors, SAN, wives, husbands, DGs, Presidents, legislators, clergies etc. No wonder students who passed through him then thanked their stars, that he was in-charged of their campus during their time.
Hence, prof believes in both the Igbo and Chinese proverbs that say “if you want to plan for a session, plant yam or rice, but if you want to plan for a life time, educate a person.” He also treated his students with fairness and even mindedness without compromising high moral and academic standards. No wonder he exemplary set the pace while other staff followed. Till date most students from North, East, West and South applaud his excellent and exemplary leadership qualities. So Prof Ojukwu has giving Nigeria good and virtuous young starts as the DDG Nigerian Law School, which we shall continue to be glad of.
His students openly declare him as their mentor. For instance, the master of ceremony during the OB Lulu Briggs foundation award ceremony for the new call to Bar in 2017 at Port Harcourt on 18th December, 2017 acknowledged him as his mentor and a gift to the legal profession. He further argued him to remain steadfast in his good works.
Furthermore, he has served in various capacities in Nigerian Bar Association from Aba branch to the National level with many quality results. Please see his article “The Road to a Brave New Bar – published on Thisday Newspaper Conference Edition 30-06-2016.
Law is an all-round subject in Bar perspectives and its application. Yet, prof Ojukwu with all due respect to other men of high pedigree at the Bar and Bench has touched all these aspects, human rights, legal education, quality teaching, authorship of many legal materials and otherwise, litigation, arbitration, counselling etc. Above all, many do not know that professor Ojukwu is not a mere legal academia, but a consummate bar man, who overtime has contributed very materially to Nigerian Bar Associations growth, his tight schedules notwithstanding. From Chief Olanipeku SAN’s tenure, Dr. Olisa Agbokoba SAN, His Excellency, Chief Akeredolu SAN he involved in the drafting and re-drafting of so many Bills to aid face-lift the bar, its practice and welfare of young-lawyers. See again ThisDay NBA Conference Special Edition title “The Road To A Brave New Bar by Prof. Ernest Ojukwu 30-06-2016.
Finally, those who intend the best for the bar would work for good and purposeful leadership to emerge. Based on his all-round and many sacrificial contributions to the Bar as in serving in so many NBA committees guard towards the upliftment of the Bar for over twenty years of such serve. Credible seniority and other worthy examples of a good Barman. Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN, trust for leadership of the NBA President come 2018 is good news to the Bar and in extension to the society. Let’s us all sacrificially support him come 2018. The legal profession in Nigeria certainly will be happy and better uplifted in so many ways if this happens. We must not miss this opportunity to turn the Bar leadership around for good. Let’s support him and elect him come 2018 for President, Nigerian Bar Association.
The Prof’s manifesto “Setting a New Bar” shows his quality and style of leadership. He is well composed and knows where he would going if elected. He is focused, articulate, imaginative, actively involved in the legal profession for a long period of time and has a wide ranging experience. The manifesto speaks for itself. He is an organiser by nature. The NBA would grow to its next ultimate level well organised and ready to stand the test of time at Nigeria’s growth to the next level, as encapsulated in his manifesto.
Go for it Pros. We are behind your impeccable profile.