BAYO AKINLADE APPRECIATES NLS AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS

BAYO AKINLADE APPRECIATES NLS AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS

It is always a great honour to serve the legal profession, whether it's through a voting process or by appointment. Thus, I am elated to see many messages from my colleagues (both at the Bar and the Bench) congratulating me on my new role as National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Law Society.

Interestingly, many a few have wondered why I took up this challenge, especially considering the nature of the NLS and the circumstances surrounding it's emergence as an association of lawyers at this time in our legal history and existence.

For anyone who knows me and my work within the legal community, this appointment comes at no surprise to them but for some others; they may be a bit taken aback and wonder why.

For answers to these nagging questions, I would rather encourage us to wait and see what we can achieve through NLS that hasn't been possible to achieve through any other lawyer's association in Nigeria and perhaps even in Africa. 

There are hundreds of  thousands of lawyers in Nigeria today but have we really prepared this profession for all of them and the ones coming? Are the laws we enacted decades ago sufficient in dealing with the emergence of new trends within the legal profession? Are the regulatory components within our RPC and the LPA sufficient in ensuring that our profession is properly managed and remains relevant to our growing economic, social and political spheres?

We have many lawyer groupings in Nigeria that has helped in making significant difference in our legal environment and allowed lawyers to play their respective part in promoting the rule of law in Nigeria.

One law association cannot manage our growing legal community of lawyers; same way a unitary form of government cannot sustain growth and development in our growing economy.

The members of NLS, all of whom are legal practitioners; with the backing of the law have come together to exercise their constitutional right to associate with a common goal to play it's unique role within the legal profession to support lawyers and promote good governance. Not in competition or rivalry with existing associations within the legal community but in support of multiple efforts to strengthen our nation's democratic structures and for the welfare of lawyers as a whole.

It is my hope that through NLS we can encourage a robust approach via it's constitution to deliver a good product to the Nigerian citizen and to the international community.

Thank you

Signed 

Bayo Akinlade Esq