Nigerian Bar Association Owerri Branch Law Week; Welcome Address Presented By Ugochukwu Dami Alinnor

PROTOCOL
It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, welcome all eminent personalities and legal luminaries to the 2023 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch sure idled to hold from4″- 7″ May, 2023.
This year’s Law Week of our dear Branch, has as its theme, “State of Legal Practice in Nigeria: Imo State in Focus”.
I must admit that the choice of this theme by the 2023 NBA Owerri Branch Law Week Committee headed by one of our finest, Sir J. T.U. Nnodum, OFR, SAN, is very apt as it gives us the opportunity to discuss in details the state of the legal profession and practice in Nigeria with particular reference to Imo State.
It will afford members of the legal profession, captains of industries, politicians, government functionaries and the general public the opportunity todo an assessment and self-examination for the future. No wonder the saying that an unexamined life is not worth living.
The quality of resource persons chosen for this year’sNBA Owerri branch Law Week equally suggests that this law week will be as intellectually enriching as it would be impactful.

In the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memories, he posited:
“There is a frightful danger ahead, visible for those who are patriotic enough to see beyond their narrow self interest.
Our ship of state is fast approaching a huge rock and unless you as a chief helmsman, courageously rise to the occasion and steer the ship away from its present course, it might hit the rock”.
These words of the late sage still resonate today reminding us of the urgent need to have a self-appraisal of our scorecard to see how well we have fared as a professional body in the discharge of our professional duties to the society.
There is the urgent need to purge ourselves of various interests which tend to restrict us from assuming our pride of place in the court of public opinion and the Nigerian polity.
Our aim, therefore,at this year’s NBA Owerri branch Law Week is to check our scorecard, to see whether we are progressing or retrogressing, as well as finding out how to make meaningful progress in this new age.
As members of the noble legal profession, ours is leadership by example. I urge us to seize the Opportunity created by the Law Week to emerge better in the best interest of our profession and the society.
It is therefore on this note that I welcome His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma and members of the State Executive Council to the 2023 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch.

**Felix C. Ashimole, Esq., co-publisher, Kubwaexpress.com**

Your Excellency, the Bar extends its profound appreciation to you for your support to the Legal Profession in Imo State and your revolutionary infrastructural projects going on in most parts of the State. equally welcome the Speaker of the imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Emeka Nduka and members of the Imo State House of Assembly.
I welcome in a special way my Lord the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice T.E, Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, the serving Judges of the Imo State Judiciary, past Chief Judges of Imo State and the retired judges a ane Imo State Judiciary.
In the same vein, I welcome the Chairman of the opening ceremony of the 2023 NBA Owerri Branch Law Week, my Lord Hon. Justice Nwosu-Iheme, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal Ekiti Division; our Keynote Speaker, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, a refined Banker and thank him for accepting to deliver the Keynote speech in this program.
I also welcome our gust lecturers, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, OON, SAN, Dr. Onyinyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the Chairmen of the various sessions of this Law Week and all other resource persons. May the biblical injunction that says “He that watereth shall be watered” never elude you.

May I also welcome the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Y.C. Masks au, SAN for his revolutionary leadership of the Bar. Mr. President, you had from inception suitivated a deep friendship with members of the NBA Owerri branch, and had gone ahead to demonstrate this relationship with the appointment of members of the Branch into the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA, as well as committees of the NBA, for which we are grateful.
Permit me to extend our most profound appreciation to the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, for his enormous support to the NBA Owerri Branch, and for gracing our Law Week. The Bar is eternally indebted to you.
I welcome in a special way the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Imo State, Chief C.O.C. Akaolisa.
The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Imo State are not left out in this note of welcome.
You have been the backbone and rallying point of the Branch, and have always been the torch bearers of the Branch.
May I ceased this opportunity to specially thank the Chairman of the NBA Owerri Branch 2023. Law Week Committee, Sir J.T.U. Nodum, OF, SAN, and the entire members of the Committee for your dexterity and adroitness in ensuring the actualization of this year’s law week.
My gratitude goes to the Worshipful Magistrates, Chairmen of Customary Courts and Inspectors of all courts in Imo State for gracing our Law Week and for your continuous support to the Bar.
I also place on record the enthusiasm and support of the members of NBA Owerri branch who contributed immensely in making this year’s law week a huge success.
We are grateful to you all. Nature will declare me wanted if I fail to thank specially my Excos for your sacrifice. May your selfless service to the Bar be a source of blessing to you all.
Again, I welcome you all to the NBA Owerri Branch 2023 Law Week, the Heartland Bar, and do wish us all a memorable Law Week experience.