In a comprehensive endorsement that is likely to send ripples through the Nigerian legal community, Dr. Kenneth Okwor, a counsel at the International Monetary Fund and a scholar with two Master’s degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge, as well as a PhD from Cambridge, has thrown his weight behind Tobenna Erojikwe’s candidature for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Dr. Okwor began his endorsement by highlighting the areas he considers crucial for the NBA’s future: “If you know me, it should come as no surprise that I have opted to predicate my choice for the office of NBA President on issues revolving around the reform of our systems for pre-call and post-call legal education, the rule of law, and lawyers’ welfare. These are issues close to my heart and issues that I started actively working on barely a month after my call to the Nigerian Bar.”
On the subject of legal education, Dr. Okwor emphasised its fundamental importance: “I believe that a sound system of legal education (both pre-call and post-call) should teach three things: the technical understanding of the law, the business of the law, and character.” He further asserted that “a large chunk of the problems bedevilling the NBA and the legal profession (whether on the litigation side or on the transactional side or both) take their roots from the decay in our system of legal education.”
Addressing the rule of law, Dr. Okwor stated, “I believe that, as lawyers, we have a solemn duty to defend the rule of law at all times – no matter whose ox is gored.” He linked this to the education system, noting that “our collective failure to perform our duty as defenders of the rule of law in Nigeria is also attributable to the fact that our system of legal education does very little in moulding character.”
On lawyers’ welfare, Dr. Okwor stressed its importance for the profession’s integrity: “I believe that the Bar’s prioritisation of its members’ welfare will strengthen the Bar, and preserve the respect for and nobility of our profession. Continuous professional development, an aspect of post-call legal education, improves our welfare by giving us knowledge and skills that expand the scope of our various practices.”
Dr. Okwor’s endorsement took a critical turn when discussing the current slate of candidates. He stated, “I have read from the candidates and listened to them speak about their plans for our profession. In particular, I listened to the debate recently hosted by the ECNBA. I am not convinced that most of them understand the depth and complexity of the issues bedevilling the NBA, especially the three issues I have chosen to focus on.”
However, he found one candidate who stood out: “One candidate shows significant promise. That candidate understands the problems, has been working actively on resolving them, and has achieved measurable results over the past 6 years… That candidate is Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe.”
Dr. Okwor praised Erojikwe’s approach, saying, “His solutions are not just practical and feasible; he has already started implementing some of them at scale, using the meagre resources of the ICLE. Tobenna has a clear plan for securing the future of our profession. This is why I will vote for him, and, I believe, this should be sufficient to earn Tobenna your vote.”
He further elaborated on his choice: “I am drawn to Tobenna because of his dedication to capacity development, determination to build an inclusive Bar ready to defend the rule of law and take on the challenges of the 21st century, and commitment to the individual and collective welfare of lawyers.”
The endorsement concluded with a powerful call to action: “If you have ever complained about our system of legal education (whether pre-call or post-call), then you have a moral duty to support, campaign for, and vote for Mr Tobenna Erojikwe in the coming NBA elections. It is a duty you owe yourself, the rest of us, and every person that will ever join our profession in Nigeria. To do otherwise would be a sad dereliction of duty.”
This endorsement from Dr. Okwor presents Erojikwe as a candidate with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the Nigerian legal profession and a track record of working towards solutions.
As the NBA presidential election approaches, this detailed and impassioned endorsement may sway many undecided voters, particularly those concerned with legal education reform and the preservation of the rule of law in Nigeria. It positions Erojikwe as a forward-thinking candidate with practical solutions to long-standing problems in the Nigerian legal system.
