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•NBA boss hails Obi’s visionary leadership
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Lawyers in Onitsha, Anambra State, under the banner of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onitsha Branch, had cause to rejoice a great deal last Wednesday, following the inauguration of their new cloak room, tastefully furnished lounge, and a gym house.
The joyous occasion was witnessed by the national president of Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, other top jurists and legal luminaries, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), Pete Obiora, and the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, represented by Justice Nweze.
In his address, chairman of NBA Onitsha branch, also known as the Premier Bar, Afam Obi Esq, 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.
Obi, who said he was deeply honoured by the presence of the NBA President at the occasion, said his presence elevated the event beyond a mere branch project to a national statement of the future of their legal profession.
He explained that the project of building a standard lounge, gym house, and cloak house was conceived from a simple but powerful idea, -that members of the Onitsha Bar deserve a space that nurtures not only the mind but, also, the body and spirit, and fosters relaxation, wellness, intellectual exchange, and professional bonding.
“In the often demanding and mentally tasking law practice, it is essential that we also create avenues for rejuvenation, reflection, and fraternity. It is a living testament to that truth that it embodies intentional leadership, collective sacrifice, and the shared determination of a Bar that refuses to settle for mediocrity” he said.
The Onitsha Bar chairman also gave more insights on the project and the idea behind its conception and actualisation.
“This project is not just brick and mortar, it is a proof that the Premier Bar, East of the Niger, under my administration, cares for the body as much as it cares for the mind. This is a project that symbolises 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. It is the celebration of a vision realised, a dream nurtured into reality, and a legacy firmly established.
“What we unveil here, today, is not merely physical edifice, but a symbol of who we are and what we stand for as a family, progressive, united, forward thinking, and deeply committed to the welfare of our members.
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“If these projects contribute, even in modest measure, to the wellbeing, unity, and advancement of this Bar, then we can say, with 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.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Justice Pete Obiora (JCA) described the chairman of the Onitsha branch of the Bar, Barr Afam Obi, as an exemplary leader.
Commissioning the project, Osigwe challenged other NBA branches in Nigeria to emulate the Onitsha branch for its visionary leadership. The NBA president disclosed that each branch of the NBA gets a 20% practicing fee. He extolled the Onitsha Branch and the Afam Obi leadership for the judicious use of funds and the foresight to raise more funds for legacy projects.
He said the chairman of the Onitsha branch and his Executive members have shown capacity and vision for leadership. 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 to Onitsha Bar as the Premier Bar, East of the Niger”.
Chairman of the project committee, Hon Emmanuel 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 criticise the government, ourselves, and others in the public places without knowing those around and 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, among others” Chukwuma 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.
Senior lawyers who spoke in the same direction included Justice C.C. Okaa, Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, and Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, among others. They maintained that the commissioned projects for Onitsha Bar would give added value and prestige to the Premier Bar East of Niger.
