ADDRESS BY PAUL BABATUNDE DAUDU ESQ , CHAIRMAN , NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION , BWARI BRANCH (CRADLE BAR) AT THE VALEDICTORY SESSION IN HONOUR OF NKECHI OBIAOLOR ESQ, AT GADIS EVENT CENTRE , DUTSE , ABUJA ON THE 29TH OF NOVEMBER 2023
PROTOCOLS,
1. It gives me NO pleasure, to be standing here today to render this tribute to our learned Colleague – Mrs Nkechi Obiaolor . This is one of the hardest and most unpleasant assignments I have had to undertake as Chairman of the NBA. Bwari Branch never did I expect that I would have to pay tribute to another colleague whose life was cut short by illness.
I knew Mrs Obialor personally and was fully aware of her courageous battle against cancer which made her death even more painful for me. Death is a phenomenon that has defied every human explanation.
No philosopher has ever offered a comprehensive explanation as to how one can be today and tomorrow; he or she is no more.
The great Williams Shakespeare in [Sonnet 60] “Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore So do our minutes hasten to their end; Each changing place with that which goes before, In sequent toil all forwards do contend.”
2. The 11th day of October, 2023 was another sad day for all of us at NBA Bwari Branch. It was a dark day for all the members of the Cradle Bar as we all battled within ourselves to contain the news of the demise of our amiable Colleague . It is painful, we won’t say it’s unbearable because death is like the hand of a clock that rolls round, while it’s pointing at 12’Oclock in the noon, it will get to 6 O’ clock in the evening. It visits numbers 1-12 from time to time, none is an exception. In the same way, death as a phenomenon, admits no exception. Nobody is exempted.
We find solace in God’s word that proclaims eternal rest in Heaven for those that died in Christ Jesus. It could be adjudged that you were with us for a short while, yes, but what matters most is that you lived well. Mrs Nkechi Obialor was the personification of diligence, elegance and compassion. Our members, who were privileged to have interacted with her will bear testimony to her simplicity and willingness to enlighten the younger lawyers especially myself .
3. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, The Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch expresses commiserate with the family of our colleague on this very painful loss. It is sad that her husband and child were present when she as she battled with the illness that eventually claimed her life. I can only imagine the pain and trauma of not just losing a loved one. We feel your pain,
We feel your agony, and it is my prayer that the Almighty God will abide with you all in this time of grief and continue to assure you of His faithfulness and goodness despite what has happened. May the Holy Spirit; the God of all comfort, comfort you now and always, and may the peace of God which is beyond human understanding, protect your hearts and minds through Christ our Lord, Amen.
4. We miss you Nkechi. 
We are pained by your sudden demise.
We miss the physical fellowship, but we take comfort in the words of the scripture which guarantees that when we exit our earthly house – our bodies, we only fall asleep and we shall continue to live in eternity with the Lord.
I therefore commend us to the following words of the scripture: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words”. (1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18). 11.
Continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Nkechi , until we meet again to part no more..
Paul Babatunde Daudu Esq
Chairman.
NBA Bwari Branch
(Cradle Bar)
