Babalakin, SAN, Calls For Improvement In Lawyers Education As NBA President, Usoro, SAN, Commends Lagos Bar Outgoing Executive For Laying An Indelible Mark

Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has described education as continuous, while pointing out the need for Nigerians to be “more equipped and more educated”.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Lagos Bar Centre in Lekki Phase 1, Babalakin, who is the chairman of the project committee, said: “We have to improve the education of lawyers as well. That is the bedrock. When you have good education, you will be able to decipher what is good and what is bad and make your demands.

“So, fundamentally, legal education is continuous; it doesn’t end with your becoming a lawyer or a SAN.”On the project, he said, for a long time, NBA Lagos chapter had wanted to provide for its members a comfortable Bar Centre “for ideas (sharing), meetings and coordinating the activities of the bar.”

The Resort Group chairman said he was proud that the project was taking off, adding, “The selection of the consultants was done in a competitive way. We have brought cost down significantly without compromising quality. It is to the glory of God that we are able to lay this foundation on the last day in office of the Lagos NBA chairman, Mr. Chukwuka Ikuazom, and I think it is only fair for what he has done. We intend to finish this project ahead of schedule.

“The selection process was done with total openness, with capacity, diligence and integrity as the yardstick for choosing the consultants. We made it clear at every stage that we were expending the association’s money and it must be accounted for to the last kobo. “Babalakin thanked lawyers who made out time to attend meetings, interview the consultants and review projects, among other things.He urged members to pay their dues and donate to the project.

NBA president, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), said he was proud to be at the event, adding that as a member of Lagos branch, he had been involved in the plan to build a Lagos Bar Centre. He commended Lagos Bar chairman Ikwuazom for the ‘unusual passion’with which he had pursued the Bar Centre project throughout his tenure, saying he and his executive colleagues had laid An indelible mark, not just for the in-coming executive council of the Premier Bar, but for the national executive as well.

Ikuazom, who had earlier promised during his electioneering to deliver a Lagos NBA Bar Centre, thanked all members for their support towards the project. He said his committee had set aside substantial money for the project and urged his successor to complete the centre soon. Land for the project was donated to the NBA by Lagos State government.