The Executives of New Wigs Nigeria, 2021 Set led by the National Co-ordinator, Edemumoh A. Essang visited Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN at his Abuja office on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

Essang, speaking on behalf of the 2021 set expressed profound gratitude to the Learned Silk for the opportunity given them to meet with him in person. He reiterated the need for young lawyers to be mentored by seniors and made particular reference to the Learned Silk as an icon in the Legal Profession. He related that the group would be honoured to have the Learned Silk as the Patron of the Set. While emphasizing the need for mentoring programmes as well as trainings for the 2021 set, Essang noted that the scourge of COVID-19 which negatively affected their studies at the Nigerian Law School made this Set of New Wigs to desire the need for such trainings and mentoring. Furthermore, he appealed that a good number of the New Wigs are desirous of attending the forthcoming NBA Annual General Conference holding in Port Harcourt and sought support to help actualize that desire.

Chief Gadzama, SAN, in response commended the initiatives of the new wigs. He stated that when he was a young Lawyer, he became the Pioneer Chairman of the Class of 1986 that has made positive impacts in the profession and the Nigerian Law School over the years. He expressed his willingness to be the Patron of the group pursuant to his passion for mentorship as an elder in the profession and as the Chairman, Mentoring Committee of the Body of Benchers for Young Lawyers.

Recall that the Learned Silk has, over the years, held annual mentoring programmes for young lawyers. The Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa JSC (RTD) Mentoring Programme for Young Lawyers has and still provides a platform where young lawyers would continuously listen and learn from notable and established lawyers in the profession. The most recent edition themed “Navigating the Rough Path in the Legal Profession – The Mix of the Old and New Generation” which had the presence of erudite judicial and legal luminaries such as Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation; Hon. Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, Acting Chief Judge of the High Court, FCT who represented the former Chief Judge of the High Court, FCT, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba, now Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Mr. O.M. Atoyebi SAN, Managing Partner, OMAPLEX Law Firm, Mrs. Toyin Bahir (Partner at Banwo & Ighodalo), Mrs. Diane Okoko, FCIArb (Partner at Marcus Okoko & Co.), and Mr. Darlington Onyekwere (Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP). The event was held from Friday, April 23, 2021 to Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Hon. Justice S.M.A Belgore Conference Hall, J-K Gadzama Court, Garki 2, Abuja.

The Learned Silk noted the disruption of studies of the 2021 set at the Nigerian Law School and hinted that plans are being put in place to ensure that they are mentored accordingly.

The Executives expressed their appreciation to the Learned Silk for his hospitable reception.

Also in attendance were other executives: Ms. Jennifer Osedebamen Omonhe, the Director of Research and Communications; Ezekiel Umokium, Esq., Representative of the Zonal Co-ordinator, South South Region; Chiemerie Dennis Nnamani; Tsalla Emmanuel Narchun; and Adam Muhammad Sa’ad.