Dr. Mobolaji Idris Ojibara Seeks For Support, As He Makes Known His Intention To Run For Office of GS, NBA

Dr. Mobolaji Idris Ojibara. I wish to formally inform you of my intention to contest for the position of the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Asforthcoming the forth coming general election of the Nigerian Bar association in July 2018. I hold a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) from Bayero University Kano [1998], Masters Degree (LL.M) from Obafemi Awolowo University, IIe-Ife [2010] and Ph.D (Law) from University of Ilorin [2018]. I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2000 and appointed a Notary Public in 2008. I became a Fellow of the Institute of Human and Natural Resources in 2014. I started my practice briefly with Deji Sasegbon SAN in Lagos in 2000 before joining Dr Aliyu Alarape Salman SAN, a core litigator and the doyen of Senior Advocates in Kwara State in 2001. I set up my own law firm, LOFTY HEIGHTS, in 2008. I am a trained and experienced Arbitrator who has represented individuals and corporate bodies, as well as acted as the party and court-appointed arbitrator at various times. As a member of Ilorin Branch of NBA, I was privileged to serve the branch, first as Publicity Secretary in 2005, then as Chairman in 2013. As a member of the National Executive Committee of the NBA, I served as Chairman, Exhibition Sub-Committee of the Technical Committee for Conference Planning [TCCP] for the 2015 AGC; and as a member of Criminal Justice Committee in 2016. As a member of the NBA Section on Business Law I have been privileged to serve as Head Rapporteur during the Annual Business Law Conferences of the SBL in 2016 and 2017; and as Chairman, Exhibition Sub-Committee for SBL Conferences of 2017 and 2018. I currently serve on the Editorial Board of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, Nigeria Branch; I am a member of Dispute Resolution Section of the International Bar Association; and a member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. I was appointed by the Chief Judge of Kwara State as a member of the Working Group for the Establishment of Kwara State Multi-Door Courthouse in 2008. I was rated in the Top 5 percent of All Nigerian Top Executives in the Law, Legal and Information Industries based on ‘the Company Size and International Business Network’ in 2015, and recognised in 2013 as Kwara State Legal Luminary of the Year. I was recognized by National Pilot as Law Personality of the Week in February 2013, by ThisDay as Legal Personality of the Week in September 2014 and by TheNigerianLawyer as Legal Personality of the Week in February 2017. The National Congress of Nigerian Students recognised me as a ‘Senior Ambassador’; and the National Association of Polytechnics Students as a ‘Trail Blazer’, in recognition of my ‘leadership acumen, immeasurable support towards nation building and contribution towards Youth Developmental Project/ Technology Advancement’ in 2015. I am a recipient of Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award, among several other service awards. MY PASSION TO SERVE AS THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE NBA The effective implementation of the service compact between any association and its members rests squarely within the purview of the office of the General Secretary. Consequently, the nexus between the office of the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association and effective service delivery to the members is not only critical but also non-negotiable. The office of the General Secretary defines the standard of service delivery accruable to members. Indeed the realization of any unifying promise of professional growth or capacity building for members is dependent on the efficiency or effectiveness of the office of the General Secretary. It is against the foregoing that I offer myself, and I seek your support, to serve you as the next General Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association. While in office, I shall, in line with the mandate stipulated under Article 8(5)e of the Amended Constitution of NBA 2015, International Best Practices, global vision of the NBA and your support, pursue the initiation, promotion and/or implementation of the activities enumerated below : 1. Develop programmes for an enhanced, effective and efficient service delivery to members from the Secretariat and protection of the dignity of the legal profession. 2. Develop programmes targeted at promoting synergy between the Secretariat and Branches, Institutes, Sections and Fora, in implementing their programmes and mandates as organs of the NBA, particularly, seamless transmission of correspondences to and from the Secretariat. 3. Drive initiatives and formulate policies targeted at professionalizing the NBA Secretariat. 4. Drive fundraising initiatives and strategies, including business development, franchising, sponsorship and advertising initiatives for the association with a view to promoting financial independence of the bar. 5. Employ International Best Practices for effective and efficient implementation of the Strategic Plans, programmes, objectives and global vision of the NBA. 6. Upgrade the NBA website to a 21st century compliant, interactive and web/ electronic payment enabled ICT platform to reflect contemporary global standard. 7. Upgrade the NBA Membership Database with Personalized User Account for each member for updates, payment of dues, conference registration, elections and sundry bar services. 8. Propose the creation, and maintenance, of Liaison Offices across the six geopolitical zones to reflect the spirit of Article 2 of the NBA Constitution in ensuring that services from the Secretariat are brought closer to members in the various branches. This will ease the problems associated with delay in the production and delivery of stamps across various branches. 9. Propose a policy that would make it mandatory for all Justices/ Judges of all courts of record, and for all law makers at all levels, in Nigeria to have as Research and Legislative Assistants respectively, lawyers of not more than 7 years post call. 10. Introduce collaborative strategies and teamwork spirit between the NBA and FIDA Nigeria towards encouraging better participation of female lawyers in the activities of the NBA. Sincerely Yours MOBOLAJI IDRIS OJIBARA, Ph.D, FHNR]]>