Chairman, Council of Legal Education (CLE) Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, has celebrated his 60th birthday. Contrary to expectations, Ngige used the attainment of 60 years to raise funds for the renovation of dilapidated infrastructures in the Law School campuses across the country, ADEBISI ONANUGA reports.
The crème de la crème of the society, senior and junior legal practitioners, friends and family members gathered in Lagos recently to honour one of their own, Emeka Ngige, SAN, on his attainment of diamond jubilee – 60 years. Ngige was born on July 11, 1961.
The thanksgiving mass was held at St Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, and the reception at the Adetokunbo Ademola Hall, Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island.
Attendees included many leading lights in the legal profession such as a classmate of the celebrator, Justice Samuel Oseji, who represented the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad; Chairman of Body of Benchers, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour (Rtd); the longest-serving Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem represented by the Presiding Justice, Lagos Division, Justice Joseph Ikyegh; President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata; former NBA President and Vice Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Chairman of YABATECH Governing Council, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who also doubled as chairman of the occasion.
Others were Prof Zach Adangor (SAN) who represented Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Uche Ihediwa who represented the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba and former Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo.
Among the guests who joined virtually were former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, George Uwechue (SAN) who was the ‘Father of the Day’, Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN) among other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Benchers and Bar Leaders.
Ngige explained that he was initially reluctant to mark the milestone anniversary due to the mood of the nation but his jewel of inestimable value, Ogoo, changed his mind.
He stated during his “Thank You Speech” that it was a poser by his wife, Ogoo on his tenure as CLE Chairman that turned the tide. He said what followed next became the highlight of his 60th birthday ceremony – the unveiling of the “Nigerian Law School Support Initiative”, a project after his heart and designed to revamp the decaying infrastructure at the Nigerian Law School.
His words: “My wife, children and I wish to start by thanking God Almighty who made the event of today possible. Within the family, we had been discussing the propriety of anyone celebrating anything nowadays, in light of the challenges our dear country and indeed the whole world is facing today.
“However, a thought must have flashed through my wife’s mind when she asked, ‘How many years is the tenure of a Chairman of Council of Legal Education?’ I said, four years. After some silence, she quipped: ‘Nna, from 28th of May, 2021, you just have two years to go. You must try and leave a lasting positive legacy at the Law School before your tenure ends’. I was struck by this flash of inspiration and we started thinking of what can be done to make this chairmanship memorable.
“Following extensive consultations that I had with the DG of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma SAN and the Chairman of my Committee of Friends, Mr Chijioke Okoli SAN, the idea of a ‘Nigeria Law School Support Initiative’ was mooted.
“The initiative was designed to be unveiled on the occasion of my 60th birthday. Initially, we thought of holding the event in Abuja but along the line, we decided that Lagos – my state of residence since 1986, should be the appropriate venue. My Committee of Friends had less than a month to prepare and package what has been presented to you today. We cannot thank God Almighty enough.”
Many corporate bodies and individuals donated towards Ngige’s pet project, the Nigeria Law School Support Initiative’, including Air Peace Airline, one of Africa’s largest airlines where Ngige is a Director. The airline’s Chairman/CEO, Chief Allen Onyema, also a high ranking lawyer, reeled out several projects to be undertaken for the five campuses of the Law School as well as its headquarters in Abuja totalling over N40 million.
He was followed by Wike-led Rivers State Government (N20million); Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, (N20m); Nigerian Law School Class of 1985 (N18m); Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, (N10m); Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, (N10m); Abia State Government (N5m); Prof Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, (N5m), and Emeka Okwuosa, chairman/CEO, Oilserve Nigeria Limited (N5 Million).
Encomiums poured like torrents of rain for the Chairman, CLE, in many birthday messages, with President Muhammadu Buhari “rejoicing with family and friends on the milestone” recorded by Ngige.
According to a press statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu: “The President notes, with commendation, contributions of the legal luminary to the study and practice of law in Nigeria, donating books and materials to Law Schools, and serving on National Executive of NBA for more than 25 years, during which he represented the association as a member of the Body of Benchers.
“President Buhari affirms that Chief Ngige played a significant role in ensuring fairness and justice for the state and citizens by accepting to join the team of private legal professionals that prosecuted cases at the Failed Banks Tribunal and other significant cases for the Federal Government, largely related to the recovery of public funds and property.
“As the lawyer, who holds the chieftaincy title of “Ikemba N’Alor” turns 60, the President congratulates him for many achievements that have attracted recognitions and awards for diligence over many years of service.”
Other who felicitated with him was the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the Leader, Nigerian Law School Class 1985 and Chairman, Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
In his goodwill message, Justice Muhammad described Ngige as a “legal icon and quintessential philanthropist,” adding that he is a “man of honour and dignity” whose lifestyle “has been a formidable fountain of inspiration to people from all walks of life.”
The CJN who was represented by Justice Samuel Oseji said Nigige led “a life of commitment to the development of his fatherland. A life of service to humanity. A life of absolute submission to the dictates of the almighty God and his conscience.
“Those are the exceptional attributes that aptly epitomise the 60-year voyage of this legal icon and quintessential philanthropist at whose instance we are all gathered here today.”
Justice Muhammad described him further: “My friend and learned colleague, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, who is currently the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, is a man of honour and dignity. His lifestyle has been a formidable fountain of inspiration to people from all walks of life. He is a man who briskly deploys wisdom and unassailable intellectual strength whenever he is confronted with herculean challenges. Interestingly, to the best of my knowledge, he has never faltered in any task assigned to him, especially in the enviable position he currently holds in the Council of Legal Education.
“The legal luminary whose 60th birthday we are celebrating today has accomplished so much in life within the short time he has so far spent. He has become a strong tower and a paragon of intellectual prowess that the younger generation of lawyers from Nigeria and beyond could conveniently draw inspiration and strength.
“His profundity and dexterity are pointedly a vehement salute to industry and excellence which ultimately culminated in the giant strides he has recorded within and outside the shores of Nigeria. To the expansive clan of his admirers, Chief Ngige, SAN is a dogged promoter of equity and fairness; and evidently an outstanding combatant in the campaign against injustice. He is a man that is richly endowed with immense savvy and graciously blessed with inimitable creative acumen which he generously engages in his daily social intercourse. His intellectual accomplishments have tremendously crystallized the legal profession by erecting virile pillars of knowledge and confidence in the minds of both legal practitioners and law students.”
Governor Akeredolu who attended the morning mass with Chief Ngige at St Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba said of the celebrant: “My great brother and learned friend in the life of mortals, the commemoration of the day of the first contact with the Earthly plane comes once in a yearly calendar.
Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stated further: “As you celebrate your 60th Birthday today, I heartily wish you a very happy birthday and prayers for scores of healthy, prosperous and peaceful returns of the day. May you have all the joy your heart can hold, all the smiles a day can bring, all the Blessings a life can unfold. “Congratulations. All honour, glory and adoration belong to the Lord for seeing you to this age. As we say in Yoruba, Asodunmodun, àsosùmòsù, igba odun odun kan. More grace.”
Malami, who was represented by a Special Adviser in the Presidency, Abiodun Aikhomu, said Ngige’s life is worthy of celebration.
”Your birthday calls for the celebration of your life and the remarkable achievements you have recorded over the years. As a thorough-bred legal practitioner with a track record of professional excellence, your invaluable contributions towards the progress of our noble profession over the years have not gone unnoticed hence the various appointments both in the legal profession and other bodies.
“Indeed, you have distinguished yourself as a renowned, selfless, industrious and committed lawyer whose foray into the legal profession has benefitted our dear nation tremendously.
“While wishing you continuous success in all your future endeavours, it is my prayer that Almighty God will preserve you for many more years and in good health so that the legal profession and the nation, in general, will continue to benefit from your wealth of experience.”
Leader of Nigerian Law School Class 1985, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the celebrant as “a very reliable, loyal, trustworthy member of Class 1985.”
Fagbemi also noted that Ngige had dedicated a lot to the development of Nigerian Law School.
Responding to the accolades showered in him, Chief Ngige thanked all his well-wishers and all those who made donations towards his pet dream, the renovation of infrastructures of the Nigerian Law School in the campuses across the country.
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