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Templars Senior Partner and immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata, was on Saturday, 1 April 2023, presented with the African Legal Icon Award at the first-ever African Heritage Concert & Awards (Afri-Heritage 23) which took place at the Kigali Marriot in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda.
Mr. Akpata shot to national limelight in July 2020, when he defeated two very respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria in a landslide victory to emerge the 30th President of the NBA, the first non-SAN to do so in 30 years. The NBA is Nigeria’s foremost and oldest professional membership organisation, and Africa’s most influential network of legal practitioners, with almost 200,000 members and 128 branches. Olu, as he is fondly called, then went ahead to serve the Association creditably for a single two-year term as stipulated by the Association’s Constitution before handing over to his successor in August 2022.
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According to The Heritage Times, organisers of the event, the Afri-Heritage 23 is a platform “carefully intended to re-tell the African story through contemporary music performances and poetry” and to “appreciate those distinguished Africans who have projected the collective image and aspirations of the African people through their various works and profession, across diverse sectors and industries, whilst creating sustainable impact that uplifts others and the continent”.
A communication issued by the organisers said Mr. Akpata was unanimously selected for special recognition and presented with the highly coveted award of African Legal Icon in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as a legal practitioner, his genuine service to humanity and his positive contributions to the growth and advancement of the African continent with several other key landmark achievements when he served as NBA President.
Other distinguished awardees on the night include Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, former President of Nigeria, who was presented with the African Democracy and Peace Icon Award, and Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, who bagged the Africa Philanthropist Award. Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, the Vice President of Liberia, was also presented with the African Humanitarian Award, while Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, received the African Advancement Icon Award.
Speaking while accepting the Award, Mr. Akpata dedicated the award to his Partners at Templars Law Firm, all of whom agreed to let him take a sabbatical for two years to fully concentrate on the highly demanding job of NBA President.
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