Welcome Address By Ms. Adaeze Anah, Esq on the occasion of the 3rd Edition of The C.O.Anah SAN Memorial Colloquium.
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of purpose I welcome you to the C. O. Anah SAN Memorial Colloquium.
This year’s edition is very symbolic as it holds here in Anambra State and in Onitsha Branch of the Nigerian Association, the Premier Bar which my father was awfully proud his membership of and had the honour of leading.
Of a truth, this was one of his life’s cherished accomplishments and the camaraderie he enjoyed here at the premier Bar gifted my siblings and I mentor, friend and indeed a second family, one we are always grateful for.
This event has become a symbol of intellectual exploration, knowledge exchange, and a celebration of our shared commitment to excellence in the delivery of legal services and necessary legal reforms that revitalizes the luster of the legal profession and strengthens institutions so as to ensure the effective protection and enforcements rights of persons, families, communities and businesses.
We also aim to rekindle the consciousness of litigation lawyers to the pivotal role we play in national development and the international human rights system. 
Motions are not just an avenue for earning income; they are supplications pulling the law to fulfil its most outstanding function which is to protect. Strategic litigation is not pro bonoor sponsored litigation, it is the steering of the state to progressive waters so that it sails steadily to sustainable development whilst preserving the life, rights and dignity of persons in her territory. Strategic litigation is strategic litigation is strategic leadership, one that our country needs more of and I enjoin us to all proactively engage in not only from structured organizations like the Nigerian Bar Association but also from our law offices.
Our Law offices are like theatres, where we may birth new legal theories, perform corrective surgeries on our jurisprudence and redirect the state when she veers off the course of sustainable development. 
The law office is perhaps the most important as well as the most underrated space in the workings of the legal sector and indeed the State. There is an urgent need for us to revisit the structure and management of our offices. This need led us to the theme of this year’s colloquium, “Practice Management; the Heartbeat of Every Impactful Legal Career”.
This theme will be dissected from three important perspectives as Dr. Ajibade, SAN will be talking on succession, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN will be dealing with the quagmire we face with advertising and Ms. Ezeno will be leading the very poignant discussion on gender disparity amongst lawyers in litigation. Under the Chairmanship of Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu ably represented by the Hon. Justice Onyechi Anumonye will lead an intense interactive session from which we will distill progressive positions and transmit them in time to the relevant stakeholders.
As we convene within these walls of inquiry and debate, we do so with a collective goal: to challenge conventional thinking, to push the boundaries of legal scholarship, and to seek answers to the pressing questions that shape our world.
Our distinguished speakers, whose expertise spans diverse areas of law and leadership, will illuminate the path forward. Their insights, borne of years of dedication to their respective domains, will not only enrich our understanding but will undoubtedly provoke us to deeply think and inspire meaningful action.
But the heart and soul of this colloquium extend beyond our speakers; it resides in all of you—our attendees, our participants, our partners, this family. Your presence here today underscores your shared commitment to the principles of justice, fairness, and human rights that lie at the core of our discussions.
The good concerns and I have received from lawyers both in the Anambra State, Delta State, and in Abuja where I live and practice has been heart-warming and strengthening. We wouldn’t be here without the commitment and sacrifice of some of my friends like Mr. Iloegbune Okoye, Remi Nweze, EmekaAsiegbu, Izu Imeji and Nnennia Ifepe.
I truly appreciate the sacrifice of their time and resources and the fortitude they all demonstrated through the process. To my friends and family at the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja and of FIDA Abuja thank you for putting up with all through the years.
It has been an adventurous ride; one I thank my stars for you. Thank you for your friendship and fellowship. May all your endeavors continue to prosper.
Over the next three hours we will engage in thought-provoking dialogues, share ground-breaking research, and build connections that bridge segments of the legal profession. We will explore the challenges of our times and seek solutions, all in the spirit of collaboration, intellectual and professional pursuit.
As we embark on this journey together, I encourage you to participate actively, to question boldly, and to engage with the diversity of perspectives that this colloquium offers. By doing so, we contribute to the legacy of C. O. Anah, SAN, and we take steps toward shaping a more just and equitable world.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, partners, and the organizing committee for their unwavering support in making this event possible.
With that, I officially welcome you to the third edition of the C. O. Anah, SAN Memorial Colloquium. Let us embark on this exciting intellectual journey with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a shared commitment to advancing the cause of justice and human rights.
