Enugu state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah’ has called on legal practitioners in the country to create a vision for themselves , explore business opportunities available to them, and create strategies of achieving and sustaining their set goals.
He made the call Wednesday, March 20, in his keynote address on the Theme ,” Unlocking prosperity: Exploring the legal and entrepreneur and Business opportunities in the East”, presented at the opening of the maiden edition of the Nigeria Bar Association – Section of Business Law( NBA- SBL)Eastern zonal conference held at the Base Enugu .
Governor Mbah who ,was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, lamented that law practice in Nigeria was not structured. He explained that “the practice of working in firms were not sustained because there were no structures”
Pix- Deputy Governor of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ossai
He explained that at most law firms, principals retired and workers were left with nothing doing because there were no structures. He noted that SBL has a role of helping businesses to thrive and when businesses thrive, lawyers will have jobs to do.
“So you have a vested interest that those businesses are in business so that the jobs of lawyers will keep being available”, he said.
For Lawyers to continue to be in business, Governor Mbah’ said, “There is no reason why SBL cannot have a desk. A desk that relates with businesses all over the world. A desk that if an investor in China, in Europe , in America is seeking to find a partner in Nigeria to invest with, the first port of call to look for available businesses is a Section of Business Law and you can do it. You can do it because you are Lawyers . You can do that because you have integrity ,. You are helping Lawyers to get jobs” Mbah said.
He emphasized that , “there should be a creative approach where Lawyers are known in the states , to be easy to get good Lawyers.”
In his speech, the Chairman of NBA- SBL, Adeoye Adefulu, said they were looking at opportunities around electricity, taxation among others . He said what they do at SBL is training of members on business opportunities so that their members can take advantages of them.
According to him, the conference of NBA-SBL focuses on three things. They included, ” impact on the professional lives of members( training), influence ( they work closely with the government and business communities to enable business thrive and sustainability ( to make sure their goals are achieved).
Pix- Presentation of gift
On his part, Chairman of the NBA- SBL Eastern zonal committee, Dr Jude Ezegwui, said the conference( first Eastern zonal) brought stakeholders, Business Law practitioners in the Eastern zone to open up lacking areas for. discussions .” It’s like a jackpot to open up business opportunities for Business Lawyers in the zone and all the Lawyers that keyed into this will not regret it”, he said..
The chairman disclosed that there will be weekly training for new business opportunities that are opened for lawyers in the Eastern zone . They will also link up Lawyers with the upcoming events and that will help the lawyers to see business opportunities.
In a remark, Chairman Planning Committee for the conference, said the aim of the conference was to seek ways of restructuring law firms to be able to harness entrepreneurial opportunities in the Eastern zone of the SBL and turn the zone to a business hub for lawyers in the state..
Pix- Participants
The conference has im attendance the Chief Justice of Enugu state,Hon. Justice Ozoemena and Legal practitioners across the South East and beyond
Author: Maureen Ikpeama