The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on the 22nd of October began its 61st Annual General Conference.

The event which was held at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, kick-started with a Jummat Prayer at Central Mosque, Air Force Base, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The prayer commenced at about 1:30 pm and ended at 2:30 pm.

On the morning of Saturday, the 23rd, Lawyers began their activities with a health walk and the take-off point was Real Madrid Academy, Yakubu Gowon Stadium. The workout was led by former Chairperson NBA Section on Legal Practice, Miannaya Essien, SAN. Others with her were; the President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, General Secretary, Joyce Oduah, 1st Vice President John. O. Aikpokpo-Martins, NBA Former Vice president, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman Conference Planning Committee, Briggs, J-K Gadzama, SAN, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, Ogaga Emoghwanre and a host of others.

There was also a football match. The Annual General Conference 2021 tournament witnessed teams from NBA Aba, Abuja, Benin, Effurun, Isiokpo, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Minna, Onitsha, Osogbo, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Udu, and Yenagoa.

The cocktail party began at about 6 pm on Saturday. The River state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, hosted the party to welcome members of the Nigerian Bar Association to Garden City, for the 61st Annual General conference.

The cocktail was held at Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court Hall, High Court Complex, Bank Road, Port Harcourt.

There were several social events organized by various NBA Branches, University alumni re-unions, Rivers’ Night, Party by Attorney-General of Rivers State, law school call set re-unions and host of others.

Thanksgiving service in a Multi- Denominational Church Service was one of the activities for the conference held at Christ Church Interdenominational, No 1 Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Rivers State. The service began around 10 am and there was a massive turn up by Christian lawyers.

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike on Monday, 25th of October, 2021 declared the conference open. In his Opening speech, he charged the NBA to invest more effort in championing the cause of citizens and by surpassing its own record.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Muhammad Tanko in his address delivered by Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili enjoined the NBA to be the voice of the Judiciary, urging lawyers to uphold sparkling ethical behavior in their conduct with the court.

The NBA President delivered a welcome message motivating attendees to achieve the goal of the Conference — Taking the Lead.

Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, who was the Keynote Speaker, decried the spate of insecurity in the country, with specified reverence to Boko Haram and banditry and urged the citizens to dedicate themselves to making Nigeria work.

There were two breakout sessions with plenaries. The first plenary which started at about 12: 45 and lasted for 2: 20 pm, had four topics and they were: Reversing the trend: A Call For National Reorientation; Who’s Got Your Back?- Symposium On Consumer Protection; The Levers For Economic Growth And Development; finally for this session, Dealing With Conflicting Decisions From Court: Matters Arising.

The Second Plenary sessions had The future of dispute resolution, Women in practice- coping with modern workplace Biases, Inequities & Challenges; Regulating Legal Practice; Career Development & Growth Within The Legal Profession; Rivers State Showcase- Taking The Lead In Developing An Independent & Virile Judiciary, as the topic discussed.

On Tuesday, the 26th, the following topics— Justice Sector Reform: Interrogating The Functions Of The Bar And Bench; Status On Implementation Of Autonomy Of State Legislatures And Judiciary Upon The Issuance Of Executive Order 10; Legal Education And Professional Development Framework: Fit For Purpose; Opportunities In Emerging Areas Of Legal Practice; The Data Conundrum- Protection, Security, Privacy & Freedom Of Information, were discussed at the plenaries.

In another session which rapped out Tuesday’s event, “Wellness Of Attorney Was Discussed. Presentation Of NBA National Insurance Scheme” (NHIS). On Wednesday, The breakout sessions comprised of 9 topics. The Panelists and moderators spoke on interesting topics ranging from ” Doing Business in Nigeria- Noxious Funds & Financial Crimes; Taking The Lead in Women’s Voice and Leadership; Building A Modern Legal Practice; Catch If You Can- Noxious Funds & Financial Crimes; Workplace & Professional Harassment; Government Regulation of Innovation & Technology; Technology Disruption In Legal Practice; Financing Nigeria: At Whose Expense; to When The People: A debate on Constitutional Amendment, which was the closing plenary for the day.

The Association began its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, the 28th and concluded on 29th, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. NBA resolved and adopted ten radical issues in the new provisions of the proposed Constitution and these issues are: NEC/ Co-Opted Members, Diaspora Membership, NEC Membership number, Reforming of Secretariat, General Council of the Bar, Posts call, Vice Chairmen, Young Lawyers’ Chairmen, Creation Of Committees, Public Law Officers.