At the 64th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association at Eko Hotel, Lagos, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, and former Ghanaian President John Mahama emphasized the need for decisive action to drive change in Nigeria and Africa.
Akpabio highlighted the importance of adopting a new mindset to rebuild the country, emphasizing the essential role of the legal community in the transformation process.
Mahama, the guest speaker, urged African legal professionals to actively contribute to shaping the future of the continent, stressing the necessity for legal reforms, economic diversification, and youth empowerment to overcome ongoing challenges.
He pointed out structural weaknesses in Africa’s economy, emphasizing the need to address issues such as over-reliance on commodity exports and underdevelopment in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
Mahama also highlighted the untapped potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area and called for legal professionals to ensure that trade agreements protect the rights of workers and citizens.
Drawing parallels between Ghana and Nigeria, Mahama emphasized the importance of public trust in democratic institutions and called for a wake-up call to address declining trust in governance across both nations.
Both leaders underscored the crucial role of legal professionals in driving positive change, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to strengthen legal institutions, uphold the rule of law, and promote justice and democracy.
To enhance the potential of Africa’s youth, they were described as both the continent’s primary challenge and its most valuable asset.
Encouraging the NBA to take the lead in advocating for educational reforms, promoting youth entrepreneurship, and ensuring that labor laws protect young workers in the digital economy was emphasized.
There was a call for architects of the future to fully utilize the immense potential of the continent’s youths, as Mahama stated.
The proposal for creating a Youth Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic to offer free legal services to young entrepreneurs navigating business complexities was put forward.
By removing legal barriers to entry, a wave of innovation and job creation driven by young people could be unleashed, as stated.
The former Ghanaian President urged the legal community to embrace their role as law custodians and Africa’s future champions.
The emphasis was on constructing a future of unity, justice, and prosperity for all Africans, as advocated.
Regarding the continent’s potential, Bagudu urged African nations to see Africa as an opportunity rather than a problem.
Highlighting Africa’s vast landmass and population as significant assets, Bagudu mentioned the potential for greater prosperity if harnessed properly.
Statistics comparing Africa’s land area and population to China and India were provided by Bagudu to underscore the continent’s potential.
The stark economic output difference, with China and India outperforming Africa, was noted by Bagudu.
The critical role of adequate resources in driving development was stressed by Bagudu.
The speaker acknowledged frustrations in Nigeria’s federal structure and the African Union, arising from unmet expectations.
The need for choices to be made at the country or union level to generate the required resources for investment was highlighted.
Unequal access to capital was identified as a significant barrier for African countries compared to northern hemisphere nations.
Bagudu underscored the importance of collective action and joining global alliances like the G20 for sustainable development.
The need for African countries to collaborate in generating necessary resources for sustainable development was emphasized.
Emphasizing the consensus set by Nigeria’s constitution on fundamental objectives for state policy, a starting point for action was suggested.
Africa was called upon to confront its realities and make necessary choices for sustainable development, as reiterated.
Choices that set countries and the continent on a sustainable development course were deemed vital, with the NBA positioned to provide support.