By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Women lawyers in Bayelsa State have welcomed thirty new female wigs into the legal profession with a charge on decent dressing and call on the Federal Government to create a deliberate policy to absorb the rising numbers of lawyers graduating from the law schools.
The women lawyers, under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Bayelsa State Chapter, informed the new wigs that despite the challenges faced in the practice of the legal profession, the practice of law in the state and the country at large is rewarding in fame and wealth.
The acting chief judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye, while speaking at the welcome cocktail for new wigs and women lawyers in the state, with the theme: ‘Sips and Tips,’ held at the Customary Court of Appeal Premises in Yenagoa, cautioned the new female lawyers against improper dressing, urging them not to allow peer group pressure lure them into misconduct and improper dressing.
The acting chief judge, who was represented by Justice Timi Songi, also called on practicing lawyers in the state to act as role models to the new ones, as well as advocates of proper and descent dressing.
Also speaking at the event, former attorney general and commissioner of Justice Bayelsa State, A.S. Arthur Esq., called on the state and federal governments to set up deliberate policies to ensure more lawyers are adequately engaged to practice the legal profession.
Professor Festus Emiri (SAN), however, urged the new wigs to devote themselves to the path of hard work and cautioned them against combining law practice with other professions. “Lawyers should focus on excellence and the extra mile to go is never congested,” he said.
Earlier, the state lead of the NBAWF, Bayelsa State Chapter, Dise Goddy Harry Esq, pointed out that the NBAWF is the women arm of the NBA and was formed in 2006 under the Olisa Agbakoba-led Exco of the NBA but later became moribund.
She also pointed out that the NBAWF was formed to address matters of interest to female lawyers and ensure efficient and impactful networking among female lawyers.
Boma Amadi Esq, chairperson of the planning committee, on the other hand was excited over the success of the event, as in her words “lawyers have once again leveraged on the experience and knowledge of senior lawyers to build their capacity in the practice of law through the presentations made by senior lawyers today.”