In a statement released on Monday, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called upon President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s incoming administration to confront the escalating issue of brain drain in the country.
The NBA, the principal organization representing legal practitioners in Nigeria, expressed deep concern over the unfortunate reality that professionals trained in Nigeria excel in various fields abroad but struggle to achieve the same level of success domestically.
The NBA attributed this situation to widespread deficiencies in multiple sectors of the economy, emphasizing the urgent need for a unified effort to revitalize the country and regain its rightful place among nations.
Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, President of the NBA, voiced these sentiments during the unveiling ceremony of the logo for the 63rd Annual General Conference (AGC) of the association.
Themed “Getting It Right, Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation Building,” the AGC will take place from August 25 to September 1, and registration for participating lawyers has officially begun.
Addressing attendees, the NBA President urged lawyers to take a leading role in the nation’s revitalization efforts, asserting that the legal profession is uniquely positioned to spearhead the country’s recovery and restructuring.
He highlighted the achievements of Nigerian professionals abroad in fields such as medicine, aviation, business, and even NASA, underscoring the need to identify the factors hindering similar success within the country.
The NBA President affirmed the association’s commitment to confronting these challenges head-on, emphasizing the administration’s focus on the recovery and repositioning of Nigeria.
Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, Chairman of the NBA conference committee, also spoke during the event, announcing various measures taken to encourage broad participation in the conference.
These measures include subsidizing conference fees and offering a 50% discount for young lawyers, while lawyers over the age of 70 will be able to register free of charge.
Osigwe emphasized that the conference would serve as an agenda-setting platform for the incoming administration and all Nigerians, providing an opportunity to not only identify existing problems but also propose effective solutions for the country’s betterment.
