The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Honour

  • Honour for entrepreneur Etomi

    Entrepreneur and social investor Temitayo Etomi has been awarded the 2018 Chevron Eisenhower Fellow following her successful completion of the 2018 Eisenhower Global Fellowship programme.

    Chevron Corporation, one of the Eisenhower Fellowships longstanding corporate sponsors, endowed the award through a generous gift to the Eisenhower Fellowships. The award is granted annually to outstanding fellows who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

    Etomi, who is the founder and CEO of Redwire Marketing Group, also established the Young Business Leaders of Nigeria, a not-for-profit organisation to help reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

    The Young Business Leaders (YBL) of Nigeria network, which was founded in 2015, provides free tools (such as laptop computers and books), mentoring, training, finance and leadership skills to young Nigerians in states with the highest unemployment numbers.

    Etomi adapted President Barack Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme to achieve these results and is using it to create employment systems, with the aim of reducing unemployment across the country. Erin Hillman, Eisenhower’s Vice President of Programs, congratulated Etomi.

    “You have been recognised from among your peers as a result of your accomplishments, as well as your potential to continue advancing your profession and our global society. This distinction acknowledges your excellent qualities,” Hillman said.

    Ms. Etomi visited Chevron President for Technology, Barbara J. Burger at the Corporation’s office in Houston Texas, and engaged the organisation’s leadership in discussions on ways of improving the scope and quality of her work in Nigeria.

    Chevron General Manager for Africa and Latin America, Mamadou Beye, who is also the Chairman of the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative, expressed the organisation’s appreciation to Etomi and underscored Chevron’s absolute commitment to economic development in the Niger Delta and the country.

  • Honour for Ajibade at 60

    As part of activities to honour Mr. Kunle Ajibade, a renowned journalist and author, who turned 60 on Monday, a one-day colloquium organised by Friends of Ajibade will hold today (May 30) at 10 a.m. at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

    This will be followed by a Cultural Evening/Poetry Reading at the Freedom Park from 5:30p.m on the same day.

    The colloquium will be led by the 1986 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Prof Wole Soyinka on the theme: A bright future for Nigeria and how to get there.

    Other speakers include Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu; Mrs. Ayo Obe; Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Ms.Ayisha Osori; Mr. Owei Lakemfa and Mr. Sam Omatseye.

    The cultural evening/poetry reading will feature tributes, readings and music, involving poets, solo saxophonists, drummers and other performance artistes.

    Ajibade’s various roles in the media have seen him serve as reporter to media houses, a Senior Correspondent for The African Concord, Assistant Editor with The African Guardian, and then different editorial and manage-ment responsibilities in the now rested Tempo and A.M News titles, before being Executive Editor of The NEWS and P.M.News in the past years.

    It was his work in the media in the dark days of brutal military rule that saw him crusading on the side of social justice, hence running against the murky essence of the vicious Abacha military regime in its high noon.

    He was arrested on spurious charges and ‘jailed for life’ in 1995, after a kangaroo and contrived judicial process, in similar vein to the encounters of other journalists, such as George Mbah of Tell, Chris Anyanwu of The Sunday Magazine (TSM), and Ben Charles Obi of the Weekend Classique, about the same period.

    His experience of arrest, imprisonment, and subsequent release from the gulag of military dictatorship after three harrowing years are chronicled in his memoir, Jailed for Life: A Reporter’s Prison Notes, which won the Victor Nwankwo Book of the Year award in 2005.

    He is also author of What a Country!, which details Nigeria’s travails under cruel and repressive rule.

     

  • Honour for Nigerian cartoonist in Philadelphia

    Former Punch Newspaper Cartoonist and comic artist, Tayo Fatunla and four African-American cartoonists have been listed for this year’s ECBACC Pioneer/Life Time Achievement awards in recognition of their contributions to comic art industry.

    The award is for his contributions to Black history through his cartoon feature OUR ROOTS. Tayo began his cartooning career in Nigeria, drawing for local and mainstream newspapers and magazines including the popular cartoon commentary column OMOBA for the Punch newspapers and TIROGO for the Nigerian Herald. He attended the prestigious Kubert School, an art school based in Dover New Jersey. It was in the US that he created OUR ROOTS whilst in art school. OUR ROOTS is an illustrated educational feature by Tayo through which he has drawn and highlighted the achievements of Black people in the diaspora and has also highlighted Africans and Nigerians who have made great contributions to world history but have gone unrecognised. Some are well known but then Fatunla believes that there are others who should be appreciated.

    Fatunla and four other well-known and established African American cartoonists and awardees namely Ray Billingsley, Barbara Brandon-Croft, Jerry Craft and Ralph L. Stevenson, cartoon who are pioneers of Comic art in their own right and will be presented with awards in Philadelphia.

    Our ROOTS has featured in Newspapers in the UK such as the Voice newspaper and in US based newspapers such as the New York Amsterdam News, Sacramento Observer, Miami Times, the Chicago Defender and the Atlanta Voice.

    Many African Americans so much relate to OUR ROOTS and have embraced it through the years. OUR ROOTS was also published briefly in the editions of Nigeria’s Sunday Times and ThisDay newspapers. Fatunla has done projects for the BBC World service and the British museum, being spin-offs from OUR ROOTS.

  • Wole Soyinka, Pat Utomi, others honour Prof. Ademola Abass at 50

    The 2nd edition of an International Law book titled Complete International Law, Text, Cases and Material has been unveiled in commemoration of the 50th birthday of Professor Ademola Abass, at Sky Lounge Bar of Eko Hotel, Lagos, at the weekend.

    An exquisite gathering, there was no boring moment at the book presentation, as guests were treated to the best, not losing sight of the celebrant’s golden age. With Comedian Senator, a master of ceremony that cracked guests up; musical interlude with Nigerian soulful singer, Jodie and so much to eat and drink, the event soared.

    The launch of the book was helmed by the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka who congratulated the celebrant, endorsing the book as the most essential for all International Law students.

    Soyinka who was Special Guest at the event urged the Federal Government to place serious emphasis on education and security in the country.

    For the celebrant, it was more than just celebrating 50, “It’s about impacting Nigerian students,” he said.

    “Today is focused on what I’m trying to use my birthday to celebrate, which is to make one of my books available to Nigerian students. I had my International Law book published in the UK which unfortunately, Nigerian students had no access to but I was ready to take it back to Nigeria and publish here, so I’m here today to present the book.

    “Actually my birthday was 24th of April, but I was away from the country. I just thought I could bring a few friends together and have some fun,” he said.

    Prof. Abass further pressed on how to make the book affordable and acceptable to all students, saying that books published in the UK are a bit expensive: “My worry is that what will be the value I am adding to Nigerian students, especially of International Law. So, I thought the book should be published by a Nigerian publisher. It’s an essential book for all international law students to have.”

    He finally persuaded Law students not to only focus in the practicing of law in court, but they should also write, teach and research Law.

    The event was graced by other distinguished personalities like Prof. Pat Utomi and Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun and others.

    Professor Ademola Abass was educated at the University of Lagos, Nottingham and Cambridge, where he obtained a PhD in International Law.

    Currently serving as the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof Abass previously taught law in various British universities, and was Professor of International Law and Organization.

    His recent works include Protecting Human Security in Africa (Oxford University Press, 2010); Complete International Law, Text, Cases and Materials (Oxford University Press, 2012, 2014); Regional Protection of Asylum Seekers: An International Legal Perspective (with Francesca Ippolito) (Ashgate, 2013).

  • Honour for 16-year old who broke college records with 343 JAMB score

    THE first time Ibrahim Ajibade wrote the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB Examination in 2017, he was 15 and scored a whopping 299. He went on to write the University of Lagos, Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and got one of the highest scores that year. He was however refused admission on age ground. Only 16-year-olds and above can be admitted into universities in Nigerian.

    Ibrahim wasn’t however deterred. He studied harder, added a year and sat again for the examination this year. As if reinvigoured, he surpassed last year’s scores by miles, returning with an amazing score of 343. He also became the first ever student to score that high in the 24-year history of his tutorial centre, Adams College, Oshodi, where he took classes for the examination.

    In recognition of the feat, Ibrahim was honoured alongside 80 others including another 16-year-old, Edgar Onyemuche, who scored 341 and 19-year-old Adekanbi Iyanuoluwa, who scored 342.

    Ibrahim who attended Vanguards Academy, Ijebu Ode wants to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Lagos because of his passion and love for electronics. With the help of God and his father, who is an Electrical and Electronics Engineer, he hopes to start a smartphone manufacturing company in Nigeria sometime soon.

    Asked to share the secrets of his success, Ibrahim said he reads but not much. He however said, “What I read, I don’t forget.” He also said this year’s exam was “very easy,” adding that he knew he would do well right from the moment he cliqued submit in his centre, although he wasn’t sure of what he would score.

    More surprising is Ibrahim’s declaration that, “I was not the best in my class at Vanguards Academy. We were 34 and I wasn’t among the first 20. I was only good in Mathematics and average in other subjects. But when I came to Adams College, Mr Adams by himself transformed my Physics and Chemistry, which helped me a lot.”

    For his brilliance, Ibrahim got a reward of N100, 000 from a parent, Mr Adekunle Fatai.

    A visibly proud father, Engineer Abdulafeez Ajibade described his son as a fighter, who, if given little guidance will always do well. He however said he never in anyway tele-guided him to follow in his footsteps but said he supported and will keep supporting him in his endeavour.

    His mother, Sherifat Yusuf Ajibade on her part says Ibrahim plays a lot but has always been very intelligent.

    As a mother, she said all she does is encourage him, “especially when I found out that with encouragement and motivation, he does very marvelous things.”

    19-year-old Adekanbi Iyanuoluwa, who scored 342 from the same centre intends to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos. She actually thought she would score less and was therefore pleasantly surprised.

    Iyanuoluwa who has written JAMB 3 times and scored 247, 202 and 274 respectively said she kept rewriting the exam because she needed a higher score to study her choice course, Medicine and Surgery.

    On her study routine, she said she usually study after a nap until she feels tired and sleepy.  She also hinted that Adams College brought out the potentials in her.

    On his part, Edgar Onyemuche, 16, who scored 341 said he also first wrote JAMB at 15 and scored 278.

    He said he chose study Mechanical Engineering in Unilag because he feels it is one of the best universities in the country.

    Edgar, who also said he wasn’t particularly the best in his secondary school said, “When I saw my score, it was unbelievable because I wasn’t expecting it. It was like a dream. JAMB released other results before mine so when it came, I couldn’t believe it.”

    His pattern of study, he said, is “30 minutes, take a break, and then go back again,” adding that he believes more in knowing and taking advantage of one’s strength.

    Founder of Adams College, Adams Adebola expressed visible joy during the awards ceremony, saying he feels happy seeing young boys and girls who have distinguished themselves and embraced hard work.

    “At Adams College, we always embrace hard work; for example, before they wrote their JAMB examination, we did six monthly examinations which we call MOCK. This is done to be able to know their challenges and we encourage them by giving gifts to the best five students in all the faculties.

    “Also, if in a school students know that you don’t embrace malpractices, they know they have to read to pass.”

    “We also let them know that if they continue with the culture of hard work, there are scholarship opportunities opened to them which is why many of our students are on scholarship in top universities in Nigeria.

    “We lay a good foundation for them and we teach them how to read which they can apply when they are in the university. If you are used to our reading lifestyle, it will work for you anywhere,” he said.

    Speaking on Ibrahim’s performance, Mr Adams said he didn’t expect anyone in the college to score as high. he however said Ibrahim always surprised him during the MOCK examinations. “He scored 98 out of 100 in Physics which has never happened in the college. We have also never recorded 343 in our college. Our students used to score 300 and above but never 343,” he said with visible pride.

  • Honour for distinguished cleric Fakeye

    It was the third memorial lecture for  a Special Apostle for Evangelism,  Prophet Gabriel Fakeye on Saturday at Prophet (Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye Memorial Cathedral on Apapa Oshodi Expressway, OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    To mark the third memorial lecture for a Special Apostle for Evangelism, Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, clerics from the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and beyond, church members, family and friends gathered on Saturday at the Prophet (Dr.) Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye Memorial Cathedral on Apapa Oshodi Expressway.

    Fakeye was the District Chairman, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District. He was an engineer, a devoted Prophet of God and a person of manifest devotion to family and friends. He was a leader with profound knowledge, grasp and appreciation of history with immense conviction and faith in the unity and greatness of the church. He served the church in several capacities.

    With this year’s topic, “The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace – The divine panacea for strong nationhood”, the Chairman/General Leader, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District,  Special Apostle Prophet,  Sunday Korode said the choice for the topic was centered on Fakeye’s orientation and perspective that Christians have the responsibility as appointed watchmen to pray and stand in the gap for their communities and the nation.

    According to him, the topic is imperative and instructive considering the current situation in the country with the ethno-religious bifurcation, implosion and social cataclysm being foisted on the nation by sons of disobedience and agents of instability.

    “This lecture is in honour of Fakeye and in remembrance of his powerful trumpet of change in the church. Fakeye was an advocate of the unity of the body of Christ and the nation at large. He left behind an unquestionable legacy of leadership and orderliness. He did not just grow the church here, he worked hard to see the Cherubim and Seraphim united as one-fold under one Shepherd all exhibiting wholesome spiritual practices that edify the name of Jesus Christ.”

    Korode decreed that the church is not happy today with the wanton destruction of human lives and properties either for political, economic or religious reasons.

    “It is saddening that as a nation, we have suddenly woken up into self-destruction, a time bomb that if not properly and quickly detonated may spell doom for the nation of N180 million inhabitants.”

    “Where we are in Nigeria today requires that we consider this topic being talked about. The church must be globally relevant and locally adaptable.”

    He added that as a nation, we need to get back to where we started, noting that is the way to get peace.

    “Where we began as a nation was that place of peaceful interaction. Civilisation means the ability to be at peace with another person; if we are not at peace with each other in Nigeria, then it means we are not civilised. Our political leaders need to rethink their perspective in leading this nation; they should pick those who will do justice to the affairs of this nation, those that would not be self-centered but people and God centered. We need to come back with a repentant heart as a nation and allow Christ to dwell in us; this would enable us operate at that level of Christ government, which is the government of peace and unity; a government that makes others relevant.

    “Our leaders know themselves that they are not leading people, they are only leading selves to perdition. No one is enjoying what this government is doing against the people of this nation. The next group of leaders should start thinking of how to lead the people aright. They must stop their excessive consumption because those elected will determine how they will lead and how they lead will determine what will happen to our nation.”

    Korede said the church is not too happy with the number of Christians in government, but noted that is because the water of politics is too dirty for anyone with a proper Christian mind to want to go in.

    “What people do in order to be in government, including killing, kidnapping and other ritualistic behaviour is too dirty for a genuine Christian to wish to join the midst of such people considering what the Bible says.

    However, he said it was important to note that bearers of light must shine into the darkness and bring about a new birth.

    “If we Christians do not step into politics, the the bad people  will continue to rule and we will not have the right to challenge them. Let us Christmas get involved and be ready to safe the people.

    “All Nigerians have to think and work together, and bring up a strategy that gives everyone an opportunity for expression that would lead to establishing proceedings for relationship and good governance, while also ensuring that we have a blueprint to assist us work through.“

    According to him, without planning, strategising and thinking ahead, we cannot achieve peace in Nigeria.

    “To have peace also means downplaying your own personal desire and ensuring that we bring in others into our thinking so that others can benefit. If we all come together as one nation, under the law of God and one constitution: we will discover that there will be peace in our nation and we will have progress.  If we get back to God we will be able to move from where we are to where we ought to be, because without God, we cannot make progress,” he said.

    The guest lecturer, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said Nigeria was making efforts to become a nation and move beyond being a nation state.

    He addressed the issue of nationhood in international diplomatic practice, focusing attention on the fact that a nation cannot exist if it does not have a government that is effective enough to enforce compliance and internationally practices.

    “Only the Federal government can operate with international practises on behalf of Nigerians.”

    According to him, the problem of Nigeria is complex and for us to have peace in this nation, we must seek God, because, it is only divine intervention that can change things in Nigeria.

    He decried that Nigeria has people who can deliver, but nothing is done to deliver Nigeria from its many problems.

    “The world is sick of selfishness and it is not curable except God intervenes. The problem of Nigeria is beyond selfishness.  The issue of corruption in Nigeria will continue because those behind it that claim to be fighting corruption are also corrupt; they are the agents of corruption.

    He urged the President to sincerely deal with corruption in Nigeria.

    “In the political governance in Nigeria, I have come to believe that it does not pay to be honest, patriotic or want to die for Nigeria. This is because when I was the Director General at NIIA, I precisely sough the ways of God and insisted on that, but the system tried to frustrate it;  the governing council that was supposed to be on the side of righteousness and holiness were just terrorising and trying to ensure that I did not succeed .

    “I left with happiness that I stood by my position and I am still surviving till today, because when I drew the attention of government to corruption while I was in NIIA, nothing was done, this is why I feel that the future is not bright for Nigeria.

    “From my experience, the way I have seen governance in Nigeria, where people are consciously on the side of doing the wrong thing, we can only pray to God for divine intervention,” he said.

    Vice President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Prof Joseph Otubu, said Fakeye helped to purify the church and made the Cherubim and Seraphim proud.

    He described him as a humble man, urging the Cherubim and Seraphim to continue to be pure as the white garment is pure.

    He also said the annual lecture should continue in honour of Fakeye for his immense contribution to the body of Christ.

     

  • Path of honour

    •Mauritius President puts her country first; steps down over a ‘minor’ infraction

    IN most of ‘mainland’ African countries, her offence would pass as a minor infraction, if not an irritant no one would pay any heed to. After all, it was an error as she claimed and the necessary restitution had been  promptly made.

    But Mauritius, the tiny island nation on the Indian Ocean has evolved in its 50 years of independence as an exemplar of good governance, strong national ethos and best practice.

    These virtues were put to test when her president, Ameena Gurib-Fakim was pressured to resign, last Saturday, over a credit card scandal. She allegedly spent $27,000 belonging to a London-based charity, Planet Earth Institute (PEI), during a shopping trip. The resignation however takes effect today.

    She belonged to PEI and had its complimentary credit card. But Mrs. Gurib-Fakim had explained that she used the card in error as it was similar to the one which belonged to her. She was also said to have made the necessary reimbursement of the spending to PEI in addition to other expenses she incurred on the institute’s bill.

    But the country’s Prime Minister (PM), Pravind Jugnauth, who is the leader of government, is not taken by Gurib-Fakim’s explanations. According to report, after a private meeting with the embattled president after the scandal blew open, an understanding seemed to have been reached to the effect that President Gurib-Fakim was to resign.

    However, she may have tried to renege on that ‘pact’ and indeed threatening to go to court to prove her innocence, thus prompting the Prime Minister to read what may be approximated as the riot act.

    Speaking with reporters, PM Jugnauth said: “I am shocked – shocked is not a strong enough word… it is an attitude which is damaging to the office of the presidency. It is a behaviour which does not honour our Republic.

    Other notable voices in the highly regarded Republic have weighed in in favour of the PM and in the overall interest of the country. “The clash makes a big dent on the reputation of our country as a business-friendly and well-managed economy… political uncertainty destroys economic development and stability,” said Dan Maraye, a former governor of the Bank of Mauritius.

    Mauritius was an uninhabited island until early Dutch and Portuguese sailors ventured into it. It was the French adventurers who began to inhabit it and grow sugarcane with slaves from (mainland) Africa and contract labour from India. It is these slaves and farm workers that make up the bulk of the population of Mauritius today; with the Indian stock being in the majority of the nearly 1.5 million population of the island country.

    Mauritius has evolved over the years from a forlorn colonial outpost to become one of the most highly regarded countries in the world. The Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance ranked Mauritius first in Africa in its Good Governance survey of 2006 to 2014; while The Economist ranked her 16th in its global measure of the State of Democracy in 167 countries. It is adjudged to be the only African country with ‘full democracy’.

    The fall of Mrs. Gurib-Fakim is a lesson for most other African countries, especially Nigeria. From the above narrative, it is apparent that what seem to be of utmost consideration here are questions of national honour and the need to protect the country’s image.

    The sum involved may be paltry and indeed inconsequential but moral rectitude and an inherent culture of national preservation loomed large in this ethical high drama. The ability of the leadership class, institutions and systems to rally promptly to preserve the ethical and moral ethos of a nation is what ultimately makes a nation great.

    We commend the courage of Mrs. Ameena Gurib-Fakim in putting national interest above self by her quiet exit from power. She has toed the path of honour. We recommend the Mauritian model to the rest of Africa. It is the way to go.

  • Enviable honour

    Nigerian elected president of international court

    The election of a Nigerian, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, as President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) gives cause to cheer, more so after the stinging report of Transparency International (TI) which showed that perception of corruption was worsening in Nigeria. It also came when our country’s human rights reputation continues to sag with the Federal Government’s ineffective handling of the herdsmen/farmers’ crisis, the continued detention of accused persons despite multiple orders of courts, and increasing repression of free press.

    Amidst these disheartening reports which impugn our country’s reputation, Judge Eboe-Osuji was elected by his peers as President of the ICC for the next three years on March 11, 2018, as stated in the ICC website. He is to be assisted by two vice presidents – Judge Robert Fremr and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut – and together they constitute the presidency, which is responsible for the administration of the court, in accordance with the ICC’s governing treaty, the Rome Convention.

    In his acceptance speech, Judge Eboe-Osuji said: “As I take up my duties, I feel encouraged that I am able to rely on the wide experience of the two vice-presidents, Judge Robert Fremr and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, both of whom I have closely worked with previously.” He went further: “I look forward to working together with them as well as with all the judges, all the officials and the staff of the court in a spirit of collegiality.” In performing his duties, he is expected to have the concurrence of the prosecutor on areas of mutual concern.

    Judge Eboe-Osuji steps into the illustrious pedigree of other Nigerian-born international jurists like Charles Dadi Onyeama, the first Nigerian judge of the World Court, Judge Taslim Elias, a former Judge and President of the World Court, and Bola Ajibola, a former Judge of the World Court. Notably all of them served at the international arena without blemish. While we are confident of Judge Eboe-Osuji, we urge him to live up to his high responsibilities and hoist our national flag even higher than his predecessors in the service of international courts.

    He must also live up to the high expectation of the international community. Perhaps the learned jurist had that in mind when he said: “I also look forward to collaborating with the Assembly of States Parties, civil society and the international community at large, acting together to strengthen and reinforce the Rome Statute system, the 20th anniversary of the adoption of which we celebrate this year.”

    Ironically, while Judge Eboe-Osuji and a host of other Nigerians are making waves outside the country, poor leadership continues to deal our country terrible blows. Recently, a Nigerian was elected a senator in Italy, while not long ago a few others were elected into the British parliament. Back home, with high unemployment, internal dislocations of citizens, ethnic tensions, economic hardship and other socio-economic challenges, Nigerians are forced to seek greener pastures abroad. Regrettably, instead of bringing healing to the country, poor leadership rather exacerbates the ethnic fault lines.

    We hope the exploits of these Nigerians abroad will serve as lesson to those in authority that, with adequate opportunities, Nigerians can hold their own among other nationals. If these Nigerians can do well outside the country, they would do better here, if the environment is made right. Perhaps this good news will help members of the National Assembly concentrate on laws for national development, instead of illegally sharing our common resources.

    As Judge Eboe-Osuji assumes his presidency, we wish him the best of luck, and urge young Nigerians to emulate him, even as we wish our country better luck in selecting its leaders.

  • Lawyers to honour activist Pa Gomez at 90

    The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate one of its foremost elders and veteran Bar activist, Pa Tunji Gomez who turns 90 years on March 18.

    Popularly known as “A matter of conscience,” the decision to honour Pa Gomez, a Life Bencher, was initiated by the Chukwuka Ikwuazom-led Branch Executive Committee.

    It was ratified during the branch’s last monthly meeting of the branch via a unanimous resolution of the members.

    A statement by chairman and secretary of the Pa Tunji Gomez at 90 Planning Committee Mr  Chukwuma Ezeala and Mr. Alfred Akinjo said the birthday celebrations will kick off on March 16 with a novelty match at 3 pm at King’s College Pitch, TBS, Lagos between the branch and the college team. Pa Gomez is an alumna of King’s College.

    The game will be followed by a Thanksgiving Church Service on March 18 at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

    There will be a birthday lecture/dinner to be held the same day at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.

    The lecture is entitled: The SAN Rank: To be or not to be? It will be delivered by leading human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

    A Life Bencher and former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Simeon Olakunri (SAN) will chair the occasion.

    Pa Gomez was admitted to the English Bar in 1961, about 57 years ago. The activist-lawyer, who is reputed for his courage and candour, still attends the meetings of his beloved “Premier Branch” regularly even at 90.

    He was the arrowhead and convener of the popular Movement for the Abolition of the Rank of SAN (MARSAN), contending that the process for the award of the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was riddled with flaws and that the rank had outlived its usefulness.

    Pa Gomez was born in 1928 and enrolled into King’s College, Lagos in 1944. His activism manifested early in his eventful life, as he is reputed to have led the 1948 strike at the College which significantly turned around the fortunes of the students.

    Pa Gomez was part of the legal team that defended late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his celebrated treason trial in 1962. He is also reputed as the first lawyer to sue the Military Government in Nigeria in the celebrated case of Madam Shapara vs. Lagos State Government.

    An avid yoga practitioner, Pa Gomez is a longstanding advocate for the welfare especially of young lawyers. He is the author of the book: Guide to Happy Marriage.

  • Honour for NCDMB chief Wabote

    Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)  Executive Secretary Simbi Kesiye Wabote has received the maiden edition of Juris Law Award.

    The award honours leaders promoting rule of law and economic growth in Nigeria.

    The award was presented to Wabote by the chairman a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, who chairs the Advisory Board of Juris Law Office.

    Wabote, after receiving the award, pledged his commitment to pursuing the rule of law in the local content of oil and gas industry.

    He said: “NCDMB is changing gear from writing letters of non-compliance on infractions to actual prosecution of offenders who think they can trample on the law of the land on Local Content and get away with it “

    “If we don’t enforce the provisions of the Local Content Law , we will not be able to create employment  opportunities for Nigerians from the activities in the oil and gas industry “The founder of Juris Law Office and President of the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy ( IIPELP), Niyi Ayoola-Daniels, a visiting professor of Energy Law and Policy, applauded the noble efforts and outstanding achievements of Wabote.