Late Gani Fawehinmi
By oluwatope Lawanson
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike are among the prominent Nigerians expected from all works of life to grace the 19th edition of the Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, Annual Lecture.
Mr Patrick Agboola, Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch made this known in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
Agboola said the lecture is aimed to preserve the outstanding legacies of the late human and civil rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
The Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, has almost for two decades rolled out the drums yearly to celebrate the greatness of Fawehinmi and his contribution to the development of law, legal profession and human rights protection.
According to the secretary, the annual lecture is taking place on Sunday, Jan. 15 at the LAHL Bevent Centre of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja
The theme is: “Free, Fair and Credible Election as Indispensable Tool for National Development.”
He said: “To speak on the topic of the day in honour of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the renowned lawyer, activist, writer, publisher, philanthropist and social critic is the United Nations’ International Elections Commissioner, Mrs Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei.”
Others are: Mr Mike Igini, former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State and Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, a Public Affairs Analyst & Commentator, as the discussants of the topic of the day.
“Gov. Sanwo-Olu will be the Chief host, the President of the NBA, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, will be the Host. While Chairman of the occasion will be Prof. Akin Oyebode, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ado-Ekiti.
“The Special guests of the day are the Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos State and Gov. Nyesom Wike, (Life Bencher) of River State,” he said
The secretary added that the focus of the programme is on how to ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, noting that it could not have come at a better time.
The guest speaker is experienced in the conduct of elections in Africa and beyond and is better placed to share her wealth of experience with Nigeria.
He urged the media to help transmit the helpful points that will be raised to the Nigerian local electoral body (Independent National Electoral Commission) INEC.
He stated that it will be part of NBA Ikeja’s modest contribution to finding lasting solutions to the natio’s electoral challenges.
According to the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, the program promises to be memorable.
