Tell me about yourself. I am Nnamdi Ikpeze. My secondary education was at Dennis Memorial Grammer School (DMGS) Onitsha and after that, I studied law at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Thereafter I was called to bar in the year 2006. I improved my academic credentials by adding an LLM, and presently I am writing up on my PhD dissertation. I have participated in bar activities and I have at various times served the NBA team of Rapporteurs and was Vice – Chair of the Young Lawyers Forum Governing Council and in many other ways. I have been lucky to work under some of the greatest living legal Titans such as Onyechi Ikpeazu OON, SAN of IKPEAZU CHAMBERS and Aare Afe Babalola CON, LLD, SAN, Founder of Emmanuel Chambers and the leading Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti. Presently I am in academia and I teach at the College of Law, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti. Before joining ABUAD, I was privileged to work at Ikpeazu Chambers where I was greatly exposed to the litigation aspect of legal practice. I am also a partner at Ikpeze & Ikpeze Chambers which was founded by my mother Prof. OVC Ikpeze. What area (s) of law interests you? My understanding of the term “legal practice” is that it means anything concerned with the work of a Legal professional. I would say that my love for legal practice stems from the fact that the profession offers “limitless opportunities” in various areas. On a personal note, I mostly enjoy litigation, teaching, and writing articles or opinions. Why do you choose to be a lawyer? ‎ As a child I always loved to argue and convince other persons around me. I always believed in the power of logic and superior argument. When I was in secondary school, quite a number of my teachers predicted that I would be become a lawyer and this was at a time when I was in the science class. When I eventually left the science class at the end of my fifth year of secondary school I naturally gravitated towards law and economics but law won in the end and I know now that I was made to be a lawyer. What is your most critical time in practice you had to deal with? I personally believe that the first three years is the most important time for a new wig in the legal profession. A new wig has to choose wisely what he wants to do and then pursue the chosen course diligently and consistently. In my early years one thing that I had to try to cope with was the issue of persistent strikes by Judiciary staff which I found very disturbing. In terms of pupilage, I was properly guided and exposed to various areas of Practice at IKPEAZU CHAMBERS where I worked in my early years. One major decision I had to make was the decision to teach, I have no regrets so far. What do you feel are things that help a person become successful in practice? Bearing in mind that success is relative, I can say with humility that To be successful, diligence must be your watchword. In addition to that a Legal Practitioner must; 1. Always remember the importance of having a good reputation 2. Develop himself consistently 3. Respect the rules of professional conduct 4. Network and participate in bar activities especially CLE Programs 5. Be humble and find good mentors 6. Try to specialize 7. Put in his best in all legal work done 8. Read Autobiographical books written by lawyers and non-lawyers such as “reaching for the stars by First lady SAN Folake Solanke SAN, ” Impossibility made possible” by Aare Afe Babalola CON, SAN and ” My watch” by President Olusegun Obasanjo What kinds of things give you the most satisfaction in your work? I derive the most satisfaction from my work when my targets are met and I get positive results and feedback. Where are you looking out for area of specialization and why? I had earlier mentioned specialization as a component of success in the legal profession. This is true and one can be a specialist without necessarily limiting opportunities that come to him as a Legal Practitioner. Legal Practitioners are versatile but carving a niche for oneself is very crucial. What are your outside interests and hobbies? ‎ Tennis, reading, driving Have you ever benefited from your ‎disappointment/mistakes? Definitely, every mistake is a lesson and one is allowed to make his own mistakes, and to learn from his personal mistakes and the mistakes of others. Who has been most influential in your life? My parents, Professors Okay and Ogugua Ikpeze. Others in no particular order; 1. Aare Afe Babalola CON, LLD, SAN 2. Onyechi Ikpeazu OON, SAN 3. Arthur Obi – Okafor SAN 4. Prof. Carol Umeobi 5. Prof. Chris Ohuruogu 6. Sir. Ben Osaka Esq. 7. Obumneme Ezeonu Esq. I hope to meet more mentors in future. ]]>

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