To succeed in life is everyone’s desire, but we must understand that it is not a straight short road that can easily be reached, however you can successfully arrive at your desired destination.
A person eager to succeed must sit down and write its blue print. The print is actually his/her vision and or aspirations. However, it is not sufficient to have the vision written in a book, there is the place of setting it in motion to get to the desired end (goal).
A vital question that must be determined is WHERE DO I GO FROM FROM HERE?
The question above applies to everyone seeking to succeed whether as students, business man or woman, single, married couples…
You must start by making moves, from constant thinking to analysing the steps you have taken, plan futuristically, keep trying don’t stop, do it over and again not giving up, keep at it and to your amazement you will achieve your desired goal.
On your journey to success, there are certain factors you must not neglect, to name a few they are family, friends and your health. You must consciously make out time for them. As success with bad health brings about frustration.
The road to success is rigorous, if climbing a step was easy am sure no one would have thought of inventing an elevator. So when climbing up, keep encouraging yourself. You will get there sooner than you least expect.
I see you getting there, at the top of your career, and other endeavours.
Nigeria my Country, the giant of Africa, how did we get here?
No light,
No salary increment,
Food price rise over a hundred percent,
Fuel price hike which when you want to purchase you cannot just drive in and out, but must spend over an hour at the fuel station outlet,
Do we talk about the collection of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) or
Is it to buy a new sim card which requires you generate vin number now.
To get your Nigerian international passport you need to fill a guarantors form. As a wife your husband cannot guarantee you. You have to search for a nice guarantor
The unavailability of the new Naira notes in our banks and ATMs…if you manage to see a bank that has cash for corporate account is N20,000 minimun you can collect, saving account N5,000 you can collect. Quick delivery is for a price of N5,000 for N20,000
Whether there will be an extension of the return of the old Naira is unknown in view of short circulation of the new Naira notes and it has left everyone wondering what next.
Law is dynamic and it evolves over time to meet with specific needs of the society. Thus every lawyer needs to consciously update his or her practice and knowledge bank to meet with current demands. The act of updating ones knowledge bank and practise is what most people call capacity build.
Capacity building is the process of developing and strengthening the skill, abilities and resources of Law firm and lawyers to meet the needs of their clients in the ever changing world.
Capacity building is having a developmental plan which must be intentional as development is expensive and very demanding. It requires determination and discipline to achieve.
For lawyers and law practice it is enhancing your lawyering skills by leveraging on vital tools which is mainly training amongst others. To build capacity in the legal profession, the place of research cannot be down played in view of the emerging areas in laws and the practice.
We must resign from the old ways of doing things by embracing and equipping ourselves with current trends eg by exploring the use of social media handles and its tool carefully so as not to offend the Rules of our Professional Conduct.
Before now, a brick and mortar office was highly needed for the establishment of a law firm, but presently you can have both a brick and mortar office as well as a virtual office giving room for more clients to locate you by reason of the world being a global village.
If I may ask, do you have a brick and mortar office?
Have you explored the use of a virtual office?
Are you thinking of the type of office, because you are having difficulties in making decisions?
A SPEECH PRESENTED BY A.O HARRISON (MRS) ON THE MAIDEN NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION WOMEN FORUM, DELTA STATE HYBID MEETING HELD ON THE 11TH DAY OF AUGUST 2022 AT THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION BRANCH HOUSE ASABA.
Honourable Attorney General of Delta State, Solicitor General/ Permanent Secretary, Delta State Lead and Facilitators of Asaba, Oleh and Ughelli
The Executive Governor of Delta State Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Honourable the Chief Judge of Delta State, My Lord T. O. Diai, Honourable Justice P. O. Elumeze President, Customary Court of Appeal, the Honourable Attorney General of Delta State Isaiah Bozimo Esq., The Chairperson Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose SAN., Council Members, our distinguished guest Speaker My Lord Honourable Justice Roli Harriman, Learned Silk, Elders of the Bar, Senior Colleagues, Facilitators and Great women of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum viewing on real time and all physically present.
I am delighted to welcome you to this maiden hybrid meeting. The event is put together to address issues affecting the female lawyers in her pursuit to the apex of her profession whether as a single lady, married, separated or widowed.
The house will agree with me that the life of a legal practitioner on a daily basis is one burdened with ups and downs. Ranging from house chore, office work, hormonal matters, complex emotional issues…if one is not cautions, She will loose her mental balance thus loosing out of life. Without mental balance every activities becomes unattainable.
Just like yesterday, I remember as a young lawyer on the send forth valedictory session of my Lord Hon. Justice Jonathan E. Shakaro when he said, the legal practice is a selfish one, it demands your time, energy…. More so it is one where retirement is far fetched.
It is more tasking on us female lawyers, especially with the hormonal play on our body system unlike her male counterpart.
Our difficulties are listed however not limited to choosing the right partner without him been threatened and uncomfortable with our achievements, marrying a fellow colleague who tells you to hang your degree at the door post before coming in, marrying a non-lawyer and people keeps asking him how he is coping based on societal perception of a female lawyer. Family expecting you to do their legal job at little or no cost not caring whether you have eaten or whether you will eat. Class groups looking unto you to answer or solve all legal issues on the platforms at no cost, having to tackle children after a long days job (assignment and report of who did what and what did not take place).
NTA Asaba Clip on the hybrid meeting Legal Practice and Life Balance
The challenges are unending. Pleasing your boss at the office by ensuring you meet up with the drafting and filing deadline, research on issues arising on the different case file and appearing in court by young female lawyers with little or no allowance for the day.
How do we bring a balance to our lives as female lawyers?
Is there really a thing called balance in this legal practice for female lawyers?
What are the rules to attaining the balance?
I remember being heavily pregnant and after my case at the Area Customary Court the president would refuse my permit to exit from court she would order that I sit down till she rise knowing I was a new wig. This was most discomforting.
Having miscarried three times I still would resume work shortly after the evacuation of the babies and give work its preference.
Is it after giving birth with Caesarean operation and I would resume work after six weeks to pursue the goals I set out for in the legal profession.
After a hectic day at the office your first bus/car stop will be the market and home again to satisfy the stomach of the family one must remember conjugal duties is an all inclusive package, up and early the next day you must be up early to handle chores then off to work.
The social life must not be left unattended to because you need to be there for others and the people you meet would either reference you to others or bring their personal brief.
Amidst the busy schedule of the female lawyers we are here to search out how to balance life. I hope at the end of todays event our guest speaker and discussants would do justice to the subject to enable us not just strike the balance but attain the peak of the legal practice.
Life is dynamic, nothing is constant other than the constant which is change. The dynamism of world is so drastic that it affects traditions, customs and ethics.
Some accord the dynamism of the world to the Laws of Nature. How has the laws of nature affected the changes you experience?
I realized I am not what I was forty years ago, a lot has happened to me through developmental process. The process has affected my perception to life and people.
It has shaped my thoughts and determined my relationships and actions. It could be said that I have gained wealth of experience overtime.
Forty years ago I was but a child who believed everything I was told, but now I subject to thought anything put to me or brought before me, my mind has become analytical, I tend to reflect and give reasons why I should act or how I should act in accordance to the information I have received or what has played out.
Who predicts these changes we experience?
Is it still nature or there is a force bigger than nature itself?
Is it nature that controls man waking up and a man’s life termination?
Who determined that my dad would live for but just 59years.
The determinant I have come to conclude is a great force bigger than nature. The force orchestrates times and season. He knows when to give peace and how to trouble the waters.
He spoke of things to come, but we are too busy to pay attention to the detailed wordings and lines He put them.
Where is the manual for nature, if you have discovered it, you would have discovered the manual for living.
I submit that there is a controller general of the universe. One who put the entire world on compulsory vacation without their input or approval.
No manufacturer produces a product without it’s manual and purpose of the product designed. Every manufacturer produces it’s products to solve problems.
Have you discovered why you are created?
What is the problem you are designed to solve?
Have you thought why you go through the ups and downs and what is expected of you to learn amidst the experience?
Is the process just the dynamism of life or there is more to it that meets the eye?
No man ventures into a profession in anticipation to fail. However failure is eminent without a blue print.
The blue print is a short term or long term vision one draws out for himself or herself.
Today we are lawyers, but a lot of us got here accidentally.
How?
one may ask?
I was asked to read law by my parent…
Whether that was your case or not, we are here as lawyers, you have scaled through the basic huddles.
Success at it is our primary focus as a group.
What must we do?
There is the place of penning down your vision.
There is need to study those who are ahead of us to ride on their stories and avoid any pit falls.
The place of studying and deligence at work cannot be put aside.
Approach your work or job with zeal and confidence.
If you make a mistake don’t quit.
Ask questions from Seniors and colleagues.
Every man needs the God factor. This was re-echoed to me at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos by my lecturers and that importance cannot be erased from my perspective.
Have self love and confidence in yourself.
Don’t be defined by the definition of what people say about you. It is alright to correct yourself where something said touched you, but never allow their words to be a ticket to depression or a doubting tool on your ability.
Love what you do whether as a private practitioner, counsel at the ministry of justice, researcher, research assistant, in-house lawyer…
Always tell yourself you are the best person to get the job done and get it done.
Hard work pays over time that is what I have learnt in this profession.
Be open to learn old and new approaches as you already know life and law is dynamic; our society, culture and traditions evolves by reason of time, catch up with the changes, keep making progress. Never settle for less.
Aspire to grow and be the best.
With Love, From the Author. Augustina Ojenikoh Harrison (Mrs.)
On the 8th March 2022, the Chairperson of FIDA (Nig) Warri Branch Megbele Ogechi Jessica was a Resource person/Mentor at the International Women’s Day celebration organized by Morgan Smart Development Foundation with a mentoring session hosted by Dr Omawunmi Evelyn Atsiangbe Urhobo.
The International Women’s Day with the theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” Morgan Smart Development Foundation hosted about 50 women to a mentorship session on Entrepreneurship, Women’s Right, Health and Fashion.
It was a refreshing session as participants were exposed to strategies on becoming better and hard working women to help in making the society great.
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day Celebration geared towards breaking the bias, members of FIDA Warri Branch led by the Chairperson Megbele Ogechi Jessica and her executives paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Council.
Though the Chairman was unavoidably absent but he was well represented by the Secretary of the Council Mr. Felix Ayemidejo. Also present were Richa Ogirisen, Counselors, woman Leader Joy Jemirigbe and others too numerous to mention who came to support their council Chairman.
Mr. Felix Ayemidejo who spoke on behalf of the Chairman assured FIDA Warri Branch that they will partner with the organization.
The said visit climaxed with the sensitization program held at the Council Secretariat Hall women were informed of the power of togetherness, training of the girl child and protection of fellow women and girls from societal hurts.
Fida Members in attendance who made the day colourful are Megbele Ogechi Jessica (Chairperson) Oghenero Faith Megbele (Asst Sec) Beauty Ekpuda ( PRO) Alero Omebeyinje Sifo (Welfare Secretary) Vanessa Oyemi Kubeyinje – Ngwu (Treasurer.) His Honour Ataine Aghogho Zino Aikpokpo- Martins, Clara Omoroh, Dr Ejiro Kore-Okiti, Timi Brisibe, Augustina Harrison Ojenikoh, Precious Pela, Harmony Agwu, Mrs Egbo Onosakponome Juliet, Mrs Irene Tadaferua, Weyimi Omoruwa, Mrs Erhi, Mrs G.G.Mure,
Her Royal Majesty, HRM Personal Assistant Diane and the Chairperson FIDA Warri Megbele Ogechi Jeasica
On Thursday, 20th January, 2022 FIDA Warri Branch paid a courtesy visit to the Olori, Wife of the Olu Of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. The aim of the visit was centered on advocacy and Membership drive to the Olori, Wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu Of Warri.
The chairperson, Megbele Ogechi Jessica who led her executives and members of FIDA, Warri Chapter on the visit to Her Royal Majesty, stated that the visit was to welcome Her Royal Majesty to the kingdom, intimate her, seek collaboration with the Olori in protecting, preserving and promoting the rights of women and children in the Kingdom, as well as programmes and of FIDA aimed at impacting and bringing positive development to Warri Kingdom.
The chairperson of FIDA, Warri Branch while addressing Her Royal Majesty prayed for God’s wisdom, peace, continuous protection and guidance throughout the reign of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu Of Warri. Prayers were also offered for God’s strength on Her Royal Majesty as she supports His Royal Majesty.
The Olori in her welcome address, expressed happiness over the visit of the Galant FIDA Warri Chapter ably led by the Chairperson Megbele Ogechi Jessica to her palace. Her Royal Majesty who is a Legal Practitioner also used the opportunity to reiterate and renew her commitment as a member and promised to work with FIDA for legal issues/advice from time to time.
Responding further, Her Royal Majesty, the Olori, expressed appreciation for the visit of the leaders and members of the organization to the Palace, while informing them she was a member of FIDA Lagos and also FIDA Abuja when she moved to Abuja. She further appreciated the team for identifying with her office. She described Lawyers as one of the few profession she is proud to belong to which is noble and unique profession, and proud to be a member of FIDA, a gallant association.
Her Royal Majesty has also promised to pay all her dues and support FIDA Warri, Delta State Chapter.
Highlights of the event was a presentation of FIDA customized t-shirts and cap to Her Royal Majesty, the Olori by Megbele Ogechi Jessica, the Chairperson.
It is on a sad note I write on the above subject matter on the premier bank in Nigeria, also called Nigeria’s number one bank; First Bank of Nigeria Limited popularly called “First Bank” which was established 1894.
It’s shocking to find out that their legal department is not abrest with the Notary Public Act and the validity of a notorized document.
A client had issue with her name on first bank system being an abbreviation of her name. Her BVN and Identity card had the correct name thus she was asked to get an affidavit to effect the correction of name on the First Bank System which was wrongly captured.
Due to the festive season, the court was not functioning and she needed an affidavit urgently. She came over to a Notary Public Office were the affidavit of correction of name was drafted, signed stamped and issued accordingly. She joyfully went into the bank branch hopeful that the issue would be resolved.
To her surprise, she was asked by customer care officer of the branch to go and get an affidavit from the court that First Bank Nigeria don’t accept Affidavit from Notary Public.
When she returned in a state of helplessness, I tried to pull some strings from a friend who works there and sadly my friend informed me that they only accepted Notary Affidavit when court was on strike. She categorically informed me that the legal department will not approve the use of the notarized affidavit except an affidavit prepared by a court.
This got me thinking, is the legal department of First Bank Nigeria manned by lawyers or laymen?
What had changed between the strike time and now that made the notorized the document acceptable during the strike but now being worthless and thus cannot be acted upon?
Well I do not want to believe that the legal department is manned by laymen. But for crying out loud, they need to research on the Subject matter to avoid suits that will cause the bank to suffer huge loss.
Haba! Ignorance is not an excuse.
The value placed on a notorized document is beyond the walls of Nigeria, it is universally accepted.
Notary public in Nigeria is appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and by virtue of their appointment he/she becomes an officer of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The task undertaken by notary public are not limited to the following;
1. Administration of oaths for giving of evidence;
2. A Notary Public may witness the execution of local and international documents;
3. Preparation of Notarial Certificates of Law & Good Standing;
4. Notarisation of Bills of Exchange;
5. Obtaining authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
6. Notary Public may be engaged in taking Affidavits, Declarations & Depositions;
7. Verification of Company documents and Verification of identity and/or signature;
8. Power of Attorney;
9. Transfers of Land Agreement
10. Security Documentation;
11. Assignments of Intellectual Property;
12. Deeds;
13. Mortgages; and
14. Company Resolutions, Minutes of Meetings and Reports.
Notary Public also notorize documents for immigration purposes.
First Bank of Nigeria customer care, legal department and all concerned desist from this uncivil behaviour. Research were the need arises, don’t further discomfort your customers who are already stressed with the predicament they find themselves.
You should be seen providing solution and not creating problems. OGA and Madam in the legal department of First Bank of Nigeria advice the customer care and all concerned according to laws in operation…
TINARIS WORLD 