Governors of Lagos and Rivers state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nyesom Wike are among the prominent Nigerians confirmed to grace the 19th edition of the Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) Annual Lecture on Sunday, January 15 in Lagos.
This was revealed in a Statement released by the Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Patrick Agboola.
The annual event organized by the NBA Ikeja branch is held to preserve the outstanding legacies of the late fiery activist, to the development of law, legal profession and the protection of human rights.
Gani Fawehinmi was a renowned lawyer, activist, writer, publisher, philanthropist and social critic who died in 2009 at the age of 71.
The statement added that, “This year’s edition of the annual lecture is taking place at the LAHL event Centre of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja and with the theme: Free, Fair and Credible Election as an Indispensable Tool for National Development.”
The Keynote speaker at Sunday’s event is the United Nations’ International Elections Commissioner, Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei.
Also billed to speak are, former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom state, Mike Igini; and Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, a Public Affairs Analyst & Commentator.
Governor Sanwo-Olu will be the Chief host, the President of the NBA, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, is the Host. The Chairman of the occasion will be Professor Akin Oyebode, who’s a former Vice Chancellor of University of Ado-Ekiti.
The Special guests of the day are the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos State and Life Bencher, Governor Nyesom Wike of River State.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire.
According to the NBA Ikeja, “The focus of the programme is on how to ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, this 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. The organizers intend to engage rapporteurs who will help out during the programme so it will be easy to transmit the helpful points that will be raised to the Nigerian electoral body (Independent National Electoral Commission) INEC. This gesture will be part of NBA Ikeja’s modest contribution to finding lasting solutions to our country’s electoral challenges.”
