IBA president lauds NBA for successful conference, hospitality

Justice of the Court of Appeal, Uzo Anyanwu-Ndukwe (left); First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi; Group Executive Director, Dangote Industries, Halima Dangote; Executive Director, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre, Dr. Abimbola Akiyode-Afolabi; Executive Director, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development, Betty Apiafi; and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufo, at the conference in Lagos …yesterday PHOTOS: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

President of International Bar Association (IBA), Horacio Neto, has praised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for a successful conference and the hospitality it showed him during his visit to the country.

Neto, who was in Lagos for the 59th NBA Annual General Conference (AGC), gave a keynote address and launched the IBA landmark report on ‘Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession’ at Eko Hotels and Towers, Victoria Island.

At a dinner in his honour by a firm of international commercial lawyers and arbitrators, TRLP Law, he said the conference gave him opportunity to rekindle old relationships and make new friends.TRLP Law was founded by Ajibola Oluyede, and his wife, Funmi. Neto, from Sao Paolo in Brazil, said it was his first time in the country and an opportunity to reconnect with Mrs. Oluyede, with whom he had worked at IBA.

He said: “I find it interesting indeed that I met your wife long before I met you. We have been friends for many years; we worked together on different projects, which are very relevant for the association. So, Funmi, thank you very much for everything you have done for Africa in the IBA and for the IBA in Africa.”

Pointing out that the IBA was about friendship and commitment, he added: “It’s about the pleasure of being with your colleagues, planning, diversity, going everywhere and knowing that you have friends there. This is the feeling that I have about Nigeria. I have many friends here.”

Explaining the inspiration for the dinner, Mr. Oluyede noted: “The idea of having a dinner came from my wife. She is the brain behind our partnership.”He praised the NBA president, Paul Usoro (SAN), and his wife for honouring the dinner.

“We’re really privileged to have you here, privileged to have our president and his beautiful wife, Mfon, who we admire so much,” he said. Usoro commended Oluyede for his forthrightness and ability to speak truth to power. “If you have a difficult case and you need that lawyer who needs to stand very firm and tell the judge what he’s doing was wrong, then you need a Jibola. “I have been with him in the trenches a number of times. One of the most recent ones was the Bukola Saraki case.”

One of the highlights of the night was when the hosts presented a talking drum to Neto. Members of the Owo branch of the NBA also presented a gift to the female host. Guests at the dinner were entertained by Nigerian professional dancers.