NACL
LAGOS – MAIDEN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
PRESIDENT’S
OPENING ADDRESS
Distinguished Chairperson and Panellists, My Lord
Justices, Rev. Fathers and Rev. Sisters present, Patrons of NACL, Benchers,
Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Learned Seniors, Colleagues, and Friends, Gentlemen
of the Press, Distinguished members of the Muslim Lawyers Association of
Nigeria (MULAN); Distinguished members of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of
Nigeria (CLASFON), Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the National
Association of Catholic Lawyers, Lagos Archdiocese, I welcome you all to NACL
Lagos maiden annual conference.
The National Association of Catholic Lawyers, Lagos
Archdiocese (NACL Lagos) is the
umbrella body of all Catholic Lawyers within the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos
united in selfless service at different strata of the Society.
The strategic objectives of NACL Lagos includes the provision of Pro Bono services and
deployment of intervention projects for the benefit of the indigent and
vulnerable members of the Society; and promotion of good governance as a tool
for ensuring equity, fairness and justice for the downtrodden. The birthing of
this Conference is one of the Association’s initiatives towards actualising
these objectives.
The theme of this maiden Conference is “LEADERSHIP WITH RESPONSIBILITY” a
theme that has been carefully chosen to reflect the present state of our
Nation’s socio-political history.
Today 13 July 2023, Day 1 of the Conference will
feature panel discussions on burning issues in the Nigerian Polity centred on
leadership/governance and the economy. These conversations will be steered by an
array of distinguished governance, economic and public affairs analysts who have
graciously given their valuable time and wealth of experiences towards the
cause to promote a better Nigeria. We look forward to the engaging and
impactful sessions lined up for the day.
In addition to driving robust discussions around
leadership/governance, the economy, and general development, NACL Lagos seeks
to use this Conference as a platform to raise funds to finance its objectives
of impacting the lives of the less privileged and vulnerable, and promotion of
equity, fairness and justice in the Nigerian polity. In that regard, tomorrow -
Day 2 of our Conference will be largely dedicated to a Fund Raising Dinner for
NACL Lagos activities with further conversations around good governance, how in
our different ways we can impact the lives of the downtrodden by giving back to
the Society and making Nigeria a better place for us all.
As we settle into the Conference
and the robust conversations that will follow, let us remember that leading
with responsibility starts with each of us playing
our roles effectively in whatever environment we find ourselves; taking
responsibility for our actions and holding each other accountable; being our
brother’s keeper; upholding the principles of equity, fairness and justice at all
times; appreciating the sanctity of human life and understanding that our actions
or inactions impact negatively or positively on the lives of others.
On a closing note, whilst I
understand that this is not a closing remark, permit me to especially thank our
distinguished Conference Chairperson, distinguished Panelists and Moderators
who responded to our invitations within a very short notice, despite their very
busy schedules. My appreciation further goes to the Chairperson and members of
the Planning Committee, our wonderful donors, sponsors, and partners who all
had worked tirelessly to deliver this maiden conference. To all participants,
thank you for responding to our invitation and for showing up despite today being
a working day.
We look forward to your
active participations in the conversations, and as we all resolve to contribute
our quota to nation building and promotion of better life for every Nigerian
irrespective of tribe, creed and political leaning.
Thank you.
Florence Atuluku
ADDRESS
BY CHIEF DR. MRS ONIKEPO NIKE AKANDE, CON,
OON, F.IOD AT THE INAUGURAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC LAWYERS (NACL) LAGOS HELD ON THE 13TH OF
JULY, 2023 AT
THE
NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL, LAGOS CAMPUS.
Distinguished
Guests, various industry representatives and stakeholders here present, it is
my singular honour and privilege to welcome you to the Inaugural Annual
Conference of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) Lagos
Archdiocese.
I
congratulate the NACL Lagos on the occasion of her Inaugural Conference aptly
themed, Leadership with Responsibility. The NACL is one of the voices
through which the Catholic Church speaks truth to power in our Nation and I
must say that this Conference is timely.
Given
our democratic history as Nigerians, the milestones we have achieved as a
Nation in relation to where we want to be or should be can only be measured in terms of our economic development and the
resultant effect of our policies at the grassroots. Taking a look at the events
and circumstances leading to the recently concluded gubernatorial elections,
the different instances of insecurity and violence, the attendant economic
instability, one is compelled to muse in the words of the late Nigerian music
legend, Mr. Sonny Okosun, “Which way Nigeria?”
Indeed,
the different facets of our Society - socio-political and economic - must
synergise to deliver on the promises made by our leaders, hence the call to
responsibility and accountability.
A
look at the sub-topics of this Conference shows an attempt to tackle the
question of leadership from an all-inclusive viewpoint. This seeks to identify
the unifying factors in our diverse socio-ethnic heritage; call holders of political
office to account by implementing sanctions for corruption and non-performance;
revamp the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors of our economy in order to
strengthen the competitive edge of our local service providers in international
markets and attract foreign investment. Achieving this will, of course, require
mending the rifts that have steadily widened through tribal and cultural
differences.
The
choice of session themes are packaged for evaluation by an array of stakeholders
carefully selected from the cream of the legal profession and academia, financial
services and capital markets and promise an engaging experience. I definitely
look forward to having conversations on:
·
Fostering leadership through the lens of diversity
·
Accountable governance
·
Innovation as a viable tool for economic
growth
·
Truth and reconciliation: a panacea for
peace and economic development in Nigeria
The
high point of this two-day event is the Fundraising Dinner for the pro bono
interventions of NACL. It is my hope that everyone of us here present will
support NACL by your active
participation at this Conference and your generous donations at the dinner.
I
am confident that you will leave this Conference really enriched and so I wish you
happy deliberations and a successful Conference.
Thank
you.
