As Mr. Ogaga Emoghwanre is interred today at Benin Vaults and Gardens, CITY LAWYER pays tribute to a consummate Bar-man with verve and panache, erstwhile Special Assistant to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, NBA Benin Branch Publicity Secretary, and Secretary of NBA Welfare Committee.

“As an astute Bar man, I strongly believe that we have no other Association than the NBA and it is our duty as members of the Bar to make our NBA activities better than we met it, as we pursue our NBA programmes and policies with absolute commitment.”

                                    – Ogaga Emoghwanre, Esq.

PROFILE
Late Ogaga Emoghwanre hailed from Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. He was the Principal Partner of Ogaga Emoghwanre & Co., a fast-rising law firm with offices in Benin City, Edo State and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Ogaga attended Edo College, Benin City and lguodala Primary School, Benin City where he graduated in flying colours. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 2008 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar on December 2nd, 2010.

Between 2011 and 2015, he cut his legal teeth at the law firm of K. O. Ehigiamusoe & Co. (Legal Practitioners). He was a member of the Board of Directors of a number of companies, and had interests in litigation, commercial transactions, real estate, information technology, and entertainment.

Ogaga was a dedicated, active and consummate Bar-man. He served the Nigerian Bar Association in various capacities both at the branch and national levels. He was until his death the Secretary of the NBA Welfare Committee, Special Assistant to the NBA President on Branch Coordination, and Publicity Secretary of NBA Benin Branch. He was an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators.

WORK EXPERIENCE
* Senior Partner, Ogaga Emoghwanre & Co – 2017-2022
* Independent Television/Radio (2000-2019) – Presenter/Producer
* Independent Television, Abuja (2001-2019) – Presenter/Producer
* Inegbeboh & Inegbeboh & Cie. City (2015-2017)
* K. O. Ehigiamusoe & Co., Benin City (2011-2015)
* Taiwo Akinwunmi & Co. Ibadan, Oyo State (2010-2011), NYSC -Counsel
* Unique Hospital – Equipment Manager (1998-2004)

PUBLICATIONS
* The NBA as a Beacon of National Unity
* Making the Best of the Olumide Akpata’s Welfare Undertakings.
* Towards a Bold and Audacious Leap for The Bar and The Bench.
* The Welfare Committee Is Setting the Pace for The Brothers Keeper Culture in NBA.
* Ethical Reflections of the RPC – Did You Know?
* Legal Authorities Series – From the Publicity Hub
* From The Desk of Ogaga Emoghwanre – Daily Newspaper Headlines
* The Sacred World Order, “Democracy”.
* The Olumide Akpata Impact: Visible to The Blind and Audible to The Deaf.
* The Role of Capacity Development in Legal Practice.
* Domestic Violence Awareness Series – Every Woman Is Priceless.
* Using Mediation as a Tool for Resolution of Family Disputes and Conflicts
* Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal/Justice Community, 2019; A paper presented at 2019, NBA Annual General Conference, held on the 27th of August, 2019 in Lagos.
* Perfection of Mortgages and searches at the land’s registry (Unpublished research work, 2014)
* Practical Advocacy for Young Lawyers: Paper delivered at a Nigerian Bar Association YLF Benin programme, 2013
* The Admissibility of Electronic Evidence in Nigeria (Project work for the award of LLB degree, University of Benin, September 2008)
* Taking Instructions from a Client/Professional Fees Charges: Paper delivered at the Nigerian Law School. 2010.

HONOURS & AWARDS
* Kontext Impact Award for the Personality of the Year on Journalism.
* Outstanding Legal Practitioner of the Year Award (YLF, Bwari Branch)
* Young Lawyers Forum Award, Presented by the YLF Forum of Degema Branch 
* Merit Award {African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria}
* Most Outstanding Parliamentarian Award, (The Supreme LAWSA Congress, Faculty of Law, University of Benin 2007)
* Meritorious Service Award (The Student Representative Council, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus 2009)
* The Most Outstanding Entertainer and Resource Person, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, 2008
* Best-dressed Student, Nigerian Law School, 2010, Lagos Campus.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
* Executive Member, Young Lawyers Forum (NBA Benin) 2014 -2016
* Founding Member, Citizens Foundation for Human Rights.
* Member, Mid-west Bar Forum (NBA)
* Member, African Bar Association.
* Member, NBA Section on Business Law.
* Member, NBA Section on Legal Practice
* Member, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL)

BAR SERVICE
* Member of the highest decision-making body of the Nigerian Bar Association – NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) under the presidency of Okey Wali, SAN (Observer); Augustine Alegeh, SAN (Observer); A. B. Mahmood, SAN (Observer); Paul Usoro, SAN (Member 2019 – 2020).
* Member, NEC (2018-2022)
* Secretary, National Welfare Committee of the NBA (2020-2022)
* Special Assistant to the NBA President (2020-2022)
* Ambassador of the National Health lnsurance Scheme (2021-2022)
Speaker at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference, Lagos, 2019.
* Member, Nigerian Bar Association Constitution Drafting Committee 2016-2018.
* Rapporteur, Nigerian Bar Association Annual General conference,  2017
* Ad-hoc Member/Organizer, NEC Dinner 2018-2020.
* Member, Publicity and Media Sub-committee, 2019 Annual General Conference.
* Most Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (The Supreme LAWSA Congress Faculty of Law, University of Benin, 2007)
* Meritorious Service Award (The Students Representative Council, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus 2009)
* The Most Outstanding Entertainer and Resource Person, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, 2008
* The Best-dressed Student, Nigerian Law School, 2010, Lagos Campus.