ADDRESS PRESENTED BY ANIEKAN AKPAN, ESQ. GOVERNOR OF THE EASTERN BAR FORUM AT THE 2024 SUMMIT OF THE FORUM HELD IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE.
I heartily welcome everyone sited in this hall to the 2024 summit of the Eastern Bar Forum.
As many of you already know, the Eastern Bar Forum is one of the four regional blocs of the NBA around which the Presidency of the NBA rotates.
The forum is made up of over 10,000 lawyers in forty three (43) branches of the NBA in the nine states of the old Eastern region of Nigeria.
The Forum speaks for and expresses the view of the 43 branches of the NBA under it on National issues and on issues that affect any of the 9 states.
This is the reason we have been vocal against violence and violent crimes in the east, against kidnapping in the South South.
We are also up in arms against police brutality against lawyers in the line of duty and other forms of misgovernance. Our country today is at a cross roads at a time when major and tough decisions have to be taken in attempt to give Nigeria a fighting chance of survival. Being that we are in a democracy, these lifesaving prescriptions will necessarily come in the form of legislation. 
This aptly explains the theme of our 2024 summit; “Contemporary Challenges: Exploring Legal and Legislative solutions to Economic Crisis and Insecurity.”
And there can be no better person to give the keynote address than His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, the President of the 10th Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly.
It is my belief that our speakers and analysts will do justice to the theme of the summit and our country will be the better for it.
At occasions such as this, it is easy to fall into the temptation of jumping into the arena to discuss the topic even before the speakers, but fear not, I won’t fall to that temptation.
I won’t pre-empt the speakers, I will end this welcome address at this point and resume my seat as a mere participant, eager and ready to soak in everything the speakers and panel lists have to offer.
Ladies and gentlemen my only duty at this time was to make you feel welcome. Permit me to do just that; you are welcome.
Enjoy the summit.
