The Nigerian Bar Association has constituted a Covid-19 WELFARE committee to be headed by Wale Babalakin SAN
In a release by signed by the President of the association,Mr Paul Usoro,the function of the committee shall be in line with section 2(h) of the NBA constitution.
The full list of members of the committee and the statement is below
i. Dr. Olawale Babalakin, SAN – Chairman
ii. Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN
iii. Miannaya Essien, SAN –
iv. Yakubu C Maikyau, SAN –
v. Solomon Umoh, SAN –
vi. Dr. Garba Tertengi, SAN –
vii. Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Awomolo, SAN
viii. Sylva Ogwemoh, SAN –
ix. Ibrahim Sanni Muhammed, SAN –
x. Emeka Etiaba, SAN –
xi. Mba E Ukweni, SAN –
xii. Steven Adehi, SAN –
xiii. Olabode Olanipekun, SAN –
xiv. Tuduru Ede, SAN –
xv. Theophilus T Igba –
xvi. Emeka Anosike –
xvii. Joshua Usman –
xviii. Ewenode Onoriode
- The broad functions of the Welfare Committee as set out in Section 2(h) of the NBA Constitution are as follows:
a. “Shall be responsible for the administration of any Welfare Scheme established by the Association;
b. “Shall be responsible for other welfare matters;
c. “Shall carry out any other function that may be assigned to it by the President or the National Executive Committee.” - Without prejudice to these broad functions, I have, in exercising the powers given to the NBA President by sub-paragraph (c) afore-quoted, mandated the Welfare Committee to focus its immediate attention and activities on raising funds from our members and other public-spirited persons and institutions which would be utilized in providing succor to our most vulnerable and deprived members who are worsted by the economic hardships occasioned by the on-going national lockdown consequent upon the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from raising the funds, the Committee will work with me in designing the most equitable and integrity-proof model for identifying the genuinely needy beneficiaries of the relief materials. Part of the Committee’s responsibility would also be to determine the form that the reliefs should take e.g. cash or kind (illustratively, food items and the like) or a combination of the two or any other form.
- I must thank all the members of the Committee for accepting so graciously to serve the Association and our members in these rather difficult times. I must in particular thank my friend, brother and Call-mate, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, SAN who, not surprisingly, has been consistently supportive of my NBA administration from inception. I spoke with all the members of the Committee prior to their appointment, and, just like Dr. Babalakin, they all readily accepted to serve. I know each of them personally and can attest to their extremely busy schedules even in this period of national lockdown and I therefore do not take their service for granted howsoever.
Indeed, I owe them a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Association. - I look forward to working with the Committee on this assignment and will, in conjunction with them, keep our members constantly informed and updated on the Committee’s work progress.
Paul Usoro, SAN
NBA President