~ As Onitsha Bar builds Lounge, Gym
By Our Reporter
The President of the Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe,SAN and Justice Pete Obiora,(JCA), have described the chairman of the Onitsha branch of the Bar,Barr Afam Obi as an exemplary leader.
This is coming on the heels of the Onitsha branch of the Bar,led by Obi building the Premier Bar Lounge, Gym and the Cloak room for the branch .
The multi-million naira edifice,was commissioned Wednesday in Onitsha, Anambra state by the NBA President which was witnessed by many Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, senior and young lawyers among others.
Commissioning the project, Osigwe challenged other NBA branches in Nigeria to emulate Onitsha branch for its visionary leadership.
The NBA President, while speaking, lamented that each branch of NBA gets 20% practicing fee, adding that some of the branches don’t make judicial use of such to develop their branches.
He said the chairman of the Onitsha branch and his executive have shown capacity and vision on how leadership should be.
Osigwe, said the Onitsha Bar has raised standards for other branches to follow,” this lounge is second to none and that is why we refer Onitsha Bar as the Premier Bar East of the Niger”
Speaking, the chairman of the project committee,Hon E D Chukwuma, a former Attorney General and commissioner for Justice in Anambra, said the idea was conceived in 2024 .
He described it as an unrivaled project in the history of Onitsha Bar, adding that they decided not to task people but to shoulder the burden themselves.
Humorously, he said,”We decided to take lawyers out of the beer parlours in this area in less than two years.We critizise the government, ourselves and others in the public places without knowing those around, the reason, for this project.
“I have never seen a man with such faith like Afam Obi. But I want to be direct now in calling out some names that changed the narrative, people like Ada Udobi,an amazing woman,Ezennia Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu,SAN, Justice Pete Obiora,(JCA) who was once the Secretary of this branch also,among others” Chukwuma said
In his address, the chairman of the Onitsha branch, Afam Obi, said leadership is not measured by the length of tenure, but by the debt of impacts in the lives of the people and by creating value that outlives one’s tenure.
According to him,”This is a project that symbolizes not just infrastructure, but Identity, not just comfort, but community, not just convenience, but continuity. This gathering to me,is far more than a ceremonial one. It’s a day of fulfillment,a day where vision finds expression,a day where aspiration is translated into enduring legacy.
” If these projects contribute,even in the modest measure,to the well being,unity, and advancement of this Bar,then we can say, with quite satisfaction, that we have fulfilled our duty.
“To the younger members of the Bar, let this moment inspire you, let it remind you that vision, when combined with hard work, perseverance, determination and integrity,yields lasting impact” Obi said
Some of the Judges, especially, Justice Pete Obiora,(JCA), Justice J I Nweze among others, said the Onitsha Bar has shown the way for others in the Southeast, adding that they have seen the vision of a true leader in Afam Obi.
Others who spoke in the same direction included, Justice CC Okaa, Ejike Ezenwa,SAN, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN among others.
