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- Enugu is home of hospitality, love, peace – Osigwe, NBA president
- Gov Mbah prepared Enugu ahead – Onyia, SSG
There is excitement in Enugu, the capital of the old Eastern region, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, firebrand South African politician, Julius Malema, and over 20,000 lawyers converge on the Coal City for the 2025 Annual General Conference, AGC, of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which opens formally today.
Earlier on Saturday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, led thousands of lawyers in a health walk session across major roads in the capital city, as more lawyers and guests continued to pour into the historic city.
This was even as the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, assured participants of a memorable experience, noting that Governor Peter Mbah had prepared the state well ahead for large events like NBA’s AGC.
Speaking to newsmen, Osigwe, who relished thrilling moments already being experienced in Enugu, said the city is a befitting venue for the theme of the conference, “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
His words: “Enugu is the capital of the South East region and also home of hospitality, home to beauty, home to peace. That was why we chose Enugu State to have our conference after moving from Port Harcourt.
“So, we are here in Enugu to enjoy the best that the people have to give us and also have a conversation about building Nigeria and making it an economic giant in Africa. Enugu is set, we are so excited.
“Our Keynote Speaker, Julius Malema, is on ground in Lagos and will touch down here tomorrow (Sunday), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the past president, who will chair the opening ceremony, will also be on ground tomorrow.
“We are all set, we are so excited, we are going to make this a never-forgotten experience, the type that will make you want to come back every time for a conference in Enugu.”
Also speaking to journalists, Prof Onyia said that the strategic government of Dr Mbah had long prepared Enugu to host conferences like that of the NBA and others.
“The Enugu State Government under Dr Peter Mbah, in the design, in thinking around tourism, how to increase our hospitality sector and build our economy, had already factored most of what you are seeing.
“Even without the NBA’s plan to come, we had already started planning what would happen if the NBA comes here, the Nigerian Society of Engineers comes here or others,” he stated.
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He recalled, “Not too long ago, Enugu Air was commissioned; not too long ago, our 100 CNG buses and five modern transport terminals were commissioned, the reconstructed and revamped Hotel Presidential was also unveiled, just name a few. We want to ensure that when people come here, they have ease in moving around, they feel safe, and they even love to live here. We are grateful to the NBA for choosing Enugu and believe that they will have a memorable experience when they stay here.”
Meanwhile, one of the lawyers who is already in the state, Favour Abraham, from Minna, Niger State, said that she was already looking forward with excitement to a memorable experience in Enugu.
“This is my second time in Enugu. I came here for the NBA conference in 2005. So, it has been 20 years. Today, it is a beautiful city. At least from the Airport, we had Enugu State CNG buses actually waiting for us. The people of this place are hospitable. I can rate Igbo people to be very beautiful people. Enugu has changed, and it’s a beautiful city.
“So, we are here to explore, have our conference, have more skills and knowledge and then enjoy Enugu to the fullest. We have beautiful things like Okpa, Isiewu, Abacha and the rest of them. At least we are coming from the North and we will love to explore the city,” she added.
Another first-time visitor, Daisy Ovrawah, from Delta State, said that she was “expecting something totally different.”
“I like the airport, the town and the CNG bus that came to bring us from the airport to the International Conference Centre, was very convenient. I love the ICC. This is very beautiful. I am impressed, I like what I am seeing,” he said.
Another lawyer, Godswill Onyegbu, a participant from Abuja, said that he was looking forward to a very highly coordinated conference.
“We just got to the conference, and the NBA bus brought us to the venue. I commend the governor for the CNG bus. Also, when we were coming, I could see Enugu very clean,” he said.
Hon. Munirat Suleiman, Magistrate of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, lauded the registration process as seamless.
“Having attended several NBA conferences that had a lot of glitches, a lot of problems collecting materials, registering and what have you, and impressed that this Enugu experience has been stress-free. So far, so good, and I am enjoying the beautiful City of Enugu, the Coal City,” she said.
Highness Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi from Ekiti, who was in Enugu in 2001 for the Oputa Panel, said, “Since I came here last night, I think I am highly impressed by what I have seen so far.”
