GENDER

NBA-AGC SOCCER: ‘WHY WE FIXED DIFFERENT PRIZES FOR MALE, FEMALE COMPETITIONS,’ BY TCCP

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference has clarified the difference in the prize winnings for the male and female NBA inter-branch football competitions slated to hold between Thursday, 18th August and Tuesday, 23rd August 2022.

The TCCP said the clarification became necessary following the debate raging amongst lawyers, especially on social media, over the difference in the prizes for the victorious teams.

The TCCP had, in an earlier notice, announced N500,000 as the winning prize for the inter-branch male football competition and N200,000 for the female football competition.

This has, however, generated some tension among lawyers some of whom viewed it as discriminatory.

But offering explanation for the difference, the TCCP said the fixing of the prize winnings was dictated by prudence and realistic expectations as the sports events at the AGC were structured to fund themselves.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Tobenna Erojikwe, its Chairman, the TCCP explained that the male football competition is viewed as totally distinct from the female football competition with completely different consideration, having been around for many years. On the other hand, the female football competition is being introduced for the very first time in the AGC to promote inclusiveness and expand the scope of activities at the AGC, the TCCP said.

“In providing sports activities as part of the AGC, the TCCP exercises prudence in the management of funds as such sports, if not fully funded by itself or sponsored by third parties, have to be subsidised by the NBA,” Erojikwe said in the statement with the subject”Prizes for NBA Inter-branch Female Football Competition”.

“The male football competition has been a regular feature of the NBA over the years and so it is much easier to project income derivable from the competition. For instance, last year, a total of 16 male football teams registered for the male football competition with N1,600,000 received as registration fees,” he said.

The TCCP Chairman said considering the novelty of the female football competition, it was difficult to project the amount that could be generated from it.

Therefore, in order to arrive at an informed view of the prize for the winner of the female football competition, the TCCP carried out an inquiry to determine the number of existing female football teams in the branches of the NBA.

“Our research suggested that there were only two established NBA female football teams in the country, and this informed the decision regarding the amount stated as prize for the competition,” he said.

Erojikwe said the only way the prize winnings for the female football competition could be increased was to raise the registration fees payable by branches, which the TCCP does not consider a feasible option at this time.

“The above considerations led to the decision to fix the above referenced prize winnings for the different competitions. We also deem it necessary to add that the decision to introduce female football as part of the sports events at the AGC is an important development which the TCCP is committed to having entrenched at future AGCs,” he said.

He, however, assured that the TCCP was actively seeking sponsorship for the female football competition and would raise the prize winning as soon as such sponsorship materialised. He pledged that the TCCP would dedicate every amount received as sponsorship and registration fee for the female football competition to the prize money.

“We hope that the above explanation provides context and clarification regarding the subject. We would please ask that the level of interest that has been shown regarding the female football is sustained through the conference and that we make it a competition that we can all look forward to every year,” Erojikwe said.

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HAUWA: ‘NBA HAS LOST A GREAT LEADER, BRIDGE BUILDER’ – GADZAMA

The Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB) Mentoring Committee for Young Lawyers, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN has described the death of factional Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch Chairman, Dr. Hauwa Shekarau as a huge loss to the legal profession.

In a moving tribute by the pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), he stated that by the demise of the leading gender activist, “the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch and even at the National level, has lost one of its great leaders, one who at the time of her death was justly considered a bridge-builder, a beacon of compassion and a leader extraordinaire.”

According to the statement made available to CITY LAWYER, “The passing of Dr. Hauwa is an incalculable loss to the legal family, the female gender advocacy network, the human rights’ society, Nigeria, and the international community in general.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

TRIBUTE TO DR. HAUWA EVELYN SHEKARAU, ESQ: A LEGAL COLOSSUS, ACTIVIST AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), ABUJA BRANCH (UNITY BAR).
The 15th September, 2021, was a black-letter day for us at J-K Gadzama LLP. It was the day Dr. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau said goodbyes and bid forever to us mortals. To say the news of her demise was shocking, sudden and saddening is in the least an understatement. It is a news we bear with such heavy hearts for such is life, very fickle and fleeting in moments! We however take comfort that life is but the sum of choices. This is even truer as vividly illustrated in the style and manner the amiable Dr. Hauwa Shekarau chose to live her life. And indeed she lived. She chose her paths, and purposefully so. And left in her trails, giant strides. She walked the walk of greats. She was an amazon who dined amongst kings and queens and left enduring legacies, to outlive her in the race of time. She travelled down uncharted territories, discovered new discoveries, broke new bounds and conquered. And though stricken with grief, we are solemnly gladdening in the rainbow of sterling performances, capacity-building and ground breaking achievements which coloured the journey of our dearest Dr. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, here, in the land of mortal.

Our dearest Dr. Shekarau is a woman of big heart and I feel greatly blessed to have crossed paths with her. She was known in different capacity to different people. From her sojourn as a lawyer and women’s rights activist to being a Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) specialist, Dr. Shekarau had exhibited uncommon dexterity, hardwork, and determination in living up to the demands of each office and position.

Very illustrious, is Dr. Shekarau, well over 25 years’ post-call experience in women and child rights advocacy. She was National President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria) between 2012 and 2015, served as a board member of several NGOs, and was a nominated delegate to the Nigeria National Conference 2014 as a representative of FIDA, always championing the course of justice in the overall, always a mother, always the voice of the voiceless, always a ready shoulder upon which the rights of women found relevance and overall upliftment.

Until her death, Dr. Shekarau was a “Bar-Woman” through and through. The Nigerian Bar Association has benefitted from her background of rich educational qualification and pool of global experiences as a Chevening Alumnus, having won the British Government Chevening Scholarship in 2006 which prepared her for further educational pursuit to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London in 2007 where she obtained a post-graduate Law Degree in Law and Development.

Dr. Shekarau was Financial Secretary and Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch from 1997 to 1999 before her election to the exalted position of a chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch in June 2020. Quite notable amongst her many strives is the commitment to fostering unity on the backdrop of the many turbulences in the Unity Bar Branch of Abuja prior to her reign as the NBA Chairperson of the Unity Bar in 2020/2021.

In the death of Dr. Hauwa Shekarau, the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch and even at the National level, has lost one of its great leaders, one who at the time of her death was justly considered a bridge-builder, a beacon of compassion and a leader extraordinaire. The passing of Dr. Hauwa is an incalculable loss to the legal family, the female gender advocacy network, the human rights’ society, Nigeria, and the international community in general.
It is indeed hard to find suitable words to pay tribute to this remarkable woman. It is however fortunate that during her remarkable life, she had the satisfaction of knowing the high esteem in which she was held by her colleagues, especially my humble self.
Rest on.
For your life was a blessing,
Your memory a treasure,
You are loved beyond words,
And missed beyond measure.

JOE-KYARI GADZAMA, OFR, MFR, SAN, FCIArb, C.Arb.
Chairman, Mentoring Committee of the Body of Benchers for Young Lawyers,
Pioneer Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL (2006-2010),
Chairman, NBA, Abuja Branch (2002-2004).

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  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Feb 17, 2021
  • 1
  • Comments Off on OKONJO-IWEALA, LAWYERS AND LESSONS IN CAREER DEV’T

OKONJO-IWEALA, LAWYERS AND LESSONS IN CAREER DEV’T

FEATURED

NTA EKPIKEN has a wealth of experience in the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, copyrights, image rights, licensing & franchising, technology transfer and product registration.

She is involved with many campaigns and advocacy initiatives including a committee working on the review of the IP laws in Nigeria and the United States Consulate “Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration” (ACC) campaign against fake malaria drugs.

With a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Swansea University (UK) and a Copyright X Certificate from Harvard Law School, USA, she is also a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN) and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) International, an Associate Fellow of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI), and the Course Coordinator for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch Continuing Professional Development Committee (CPDC).

In this piece, she dissects the nexus between career advancement and the emergence of Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the coveted Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The extraordinary feat of the emergence of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been celebrated across Nigeria as one that represents a true instance of the breaking of glass ceilings on many fronts. It is indeed worthy of celebration that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first African to be elected as Director General of the WTO in a very keenly contested election. This achievement by this exceptional lady is made more remarkable by the fact that at this time in its history, Nigeria is struggling with its identity as a nation, generally seen by the international community as a corrupt country with corrupt people, a country with one of the highest levels of insecurity, generally lawless and with all other negative perceptions that space would not allow one to mention.

Many have commented on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala being African and black. Of course, that is worth commenting on because of the racial and other prejudices that often reflect in world affairs and in international diplomacy. Most discerning black Africans who have lived or live in the Western world would understand what it means for a black person to reach certain heights in global politics, international affairs and business.

The other aspect of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s ascendency that people have commented on is that she is female, a mother and a wife. It is not difficult to see why the fact that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, a female, reached this remarkable height is a topic for discussion when considered from the perspective of the many prejudices that still exist in the work place where gender inequality is for many reasons still prevalent. Add this factor to the demands of keeping a home and being a mother and it becomes much clearer. Today, this great lady stands tall as a role model not only for black people across the globe but for all women and all those who aspire to do well irrespective of race, gender, disability or any other seemingly inhibiting factor.

The above said, however, I think that there is an important lesson for every professional and lawyer and, closer to home, for members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch. The Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala story is one that epitomizes the values of consistent and rigorous professional development. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala became the Director General of the WTO against all odds because of the fact that she is a thoroughbred professional. She got there purely on merit.

Her story inspires me and should inspire all of us to achieve more and to continue to develop as we progress in life, knowing that professional growth and development is an inevitable factor to our prosperity and career fulfillment. In our profession today, there are many who do not see much hope in the profession, and many young lawyers are looking for a sense of purpose and seeking direction. I recommend the story of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala – who grew up in the University Campus at Ibadan and Nsukka, had her secondary education at Ibadan and Enugu – to all of us and to say that the possibilities are limitless in this era of globalization, trade (free and otherwise) and continuing advancement in transferability of knowledge.

We are fortunate to have an NBA that is now focused on career development and rolling out a lot of programmes for the advancement of members of the profession. I am particularly proud of the work that has been done by the Continuing Professional Development Committee of our branch (of which I am proud to be the Course Coordinator). Due to advancement in technology we have been able to attract some of the most distinguished professionals in the world, including graduates of the Yale University, Columbia, Harvard and Oxford amongst others, to speak on topical legal issues and areas at our meetings and other CPD events and trainings. I encourage members of the branch to use Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a point of contact for inspiration to continue to develop in their careers and to participate in the various ground-breaking initiatives of the Continuing Professional Development Committee of the Branch.

I join many today in congratulating Dr. Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the Director General of the WTO.

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