NBA-AGC 2017: MEMBERS’ COUNTDOWN

Following several glitches and gaffes with the Conference registration process for the 2017 Annual General Conference (AGC), and the incessant pacification by the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), members continue to express dissatisfaction at the planning of the this year’s conference. Out and about, we bring a few of these comments, which aptly captures the pulse of the bar towards the 2017 AGC. EXCERPTS…

A conference is not just about reading materials or getting apps. It is also a social moment for mixing & hanging out & catching up. The best conference business is often done in these informals. The problem with this whole thing, in my view, is that the TCCP decided on a capped conference and deliberately decided not to communicate that particular fact to the membership or the NBA leadership until it became an embarrassing.

Rather, some members of the TCCP who had insider information went off to tell their friends privately that registration in the conference will be capped & that they should rush & register once the conference registration portal opens, like it is a favour. Conference registration then was closed while officially early-bird registration was still open. This entire episode is sorry and wrong.

Personally, as my own act of protest at this way of doing things, I have decided I will not be at the conference. It is not right and I think the TCCP owes the membership of the Bar and the NBA President an apology.

We should not be patronised like this. The business of the TCCP is not to sell Apps or conference materials, as important as that is. That sounds like all these mis-laid Nigerian lecturers selling handouts. In my estimation, the reason for this is not love of the membership but probably that the conference revenue projection from registration is in all likelihood way out of kilter and below expectation. If this is a Smart Alec’s idea of shoring up the revenues, then it should come wrapped with an apology, full disclosure and a substantial rebate!

For the record, I am Chidi Anselm Odinkalu.”

–       PROF CHIDI ODINKALU

Former Chairman National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

“The President of the bar should not be exonerated from blame. I don’t know the TCCP and whatever the President and his team asked them to do. If what they are doing is different from the National Executive referred to them, they ought to have been re-directed. I’ve read the President telling us it cannot be an ‘all-comers’ conference. So, I have stopped struggling to register. I’ll find an alternative engagement for my time and resources. This one has proven to be a stillbirth.”

-EBUKA

”

Quick Question please.

In trying to comply with the August 1 deadline to upload pictures on the NBA conference portal, which I just successfully did, I came across the gory and uncharitable information that the  BREAKOUT SESSIONS OF THE NBA AGC 2017 ARE “FULLY BOOKED”! So is the NBA Dinner. And even the social sessions too. I honestly do not quite understand the meaning and implication of “FULLY BOOKED” as used in this context. Does it literally mean “fully booked”? As in the plain meaning of Fully Booked? I honestly hope not.

And in the unfortunate event that it does, is there a Plan B for those of us conference delegates who may have registered for the conference, but were a little tardy in registering for the breakout sessions? There must be a contingency plan for us. So we get to Lagos, get all dressed up for the conference, take our double shots of expresso and coffee to guide us through the day, attend the General session in the morning and then what? Go back to the hotel room to drink Piña Coladas? No good people! Something isn’t right!

I have to be missing something here! Can someone please help me figure this out? Due to my relatively nascent membership of this Bar. I cannot righteously lay claim to being a veteran of the NBA conferences, but as one who has been attending Lawyer and Non Lawyer Conferences all over the world for the past two decades, I know that the primary function of a conference planning committee is to ANTICIPATE the number of prospective delegates and PLAN to accommodate them completely. So, if the Breakout Sessions, which in my opinion are the most instructive sessions of the AGC are ALL fully booked, then what are we coming there to do?

Take Selfies and post on Instagram?! I definitely need help here.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!”

-DR CHIDI