Young Nigerian lawyers must retool to succeed – Serena Dokubo
Rising from a breakout session for young lawyers at the Nigerian Bar association (NBA) annual general conference, key stakeholders in the legal industry have said that the future of practice for young lawyers in Nigeria is looking bright.
The session tagged, Nigeria’s Hidden Weapons – Generation X, chaired by the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, His Royal Highness, David Serena Dokubo-Spiff was designed to ignite and inspire Nigerian young lawyers.
In his opening remarks, the Serena Dokubo, who founded Serenity Chambers with practice in Port-Harcourt and other states, noted that the phraseology of the Theme was as exotic as it was intriguing.
“The purpose of this session is to bring to fore, the need for awareness of the significant role young people of this country could play in the drive towards overall national development. Generation X is about that category of highly trained young men and women who are citizens of a great country, endowed with almost limitless opportunities, but who are yet to be deployed, or who are yet to deploy themselves, to the task of enhancing the Legal Profession or advancing our beloved nation.
“Generation X therefore, must retool, Generation X must rejig, Generation X must revamp. In the words of William Shakespeare in his Julius Caesar. “We must take the current when it serves, or lose all our ventures “
He continued, “In order to help us illuminate the topic of today, the organizers have put together, carefully chosen experts in the field of sculpturing the human mind. We have World-renowned man of God Pastor Tunde Bakare, Life Coach, Lanre Olusola; Funmi Odude Young Outstanding Entrepreneur; Jacques Nyemb, enterprising Cameroonian Lawyer with International flavor.
“Let me conclude by enjoining all young lawyers to be both focused and adventurous at the same time…. focused on target, adventurous in method. You must refuse to be shackled in any way, shape or form.
“There are many openings in the world, extend yourselves. Young lawyers, explore new avenues and solutions!
“Oftentimes though, being adventurous comes with it’s own challenges. But take solace in the words of Lord Denning, M. R. in the landmark case of Parker and Parker
“What is the argument on the other side? Only this, that ‘no case has been found in which it has been done before’ That argument does not commend itself to me in the least, for, if we do not do what has never been done before, the law will stand still, while the rest of the world moves on. And that will be bad for both. Generation X, I urge you to rise up and propel the Legal Profession and our beloved country to unprecedented heights and glory,” Serena-Dokubo said.
The session was intended to unleash the laden potentials in Nigeria’s young lawyers and the future of legal practice, which awaits them.
The session, Nigeria’s Hidden Weapons – Generation X had as lead speaker, erudite teacher and preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, former Running Mate to President Buhari in the 2011 elections.
In analysing problems of the Nigerian youth, he said the young ones are not willing to take up leadership positions and those who are willing are not able to.
In his remarks, Pastor Bakare noted that one of the greatest tragedies in Nigeria today as that the nation recycles its past leaders. He said that what Nigeria really needs is wisdom from old and experienced people and in synergy with the energy and drive of the young.
He posited that a nation cannot develop without learning from its history. He warned Nigerian youth never again to allow the old to declare war for them the young to fight.
Bakare, who had a successful legal practice had his pupillage in the Gani Fawehinmi Chambers decried the removal of pupillage from legal practice in Nigeria. Regrettably, according to him, this is one of the reasons legal practice in Nigeria is witnessing falling standards.
Discussants at this session included Funmilayo Odude who is the Managing Partner at Damon Law Practice, motivational speaker and Life Coach, Lanre Olusola and US and Paris trained Camerounian lawyer Jacques Jonathan.