Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (AGF), Senator Kanu Agabi has lamented growing insecurity in the country, stressing that it was time for sober reflection and restitution.
Also ,Abuja based lawyer, Barr. Ese Oraka has advised new wigs to expand their horizon and go beyond mere legal practice to developing personal entrepreneurial acumen for self capacity development.
The duo spoke at the Law Dinner of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSA), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Abuja Study Center, chapter.
According to Agabi, “Nigeria is a nation in distress which requires prayer more than accolades. With the level of insecurity in the country, it is imperative that we do a sober reflection and find out the aspect of our lives that we urgently need to correct. It is also a time for restitution.
“Our country is in the grip of flattery. All these awards and merry-making should be occasion for sober reflection and atonement for the atrocities we have committed.
“We are called upon to sacrifice our ranks, ourselves, because that is what is required in the country now. The Bible said ‘be still and know that I am God’. This is not time for awards; it is time for sober reflection; let us be still, carry out an introspection and make amends”.
Guest speaker, Barr Oraka, who spoke on “Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, advised Law students to strive to develop their skills in all sectors, stressing that doing so would galvanise the tools for entrenching innovative personal and national capacities.
He added that rather than simply focus on precedents, which is the traditional pattern in law practice, innovative ideas and entrepreneurial skills would be of tremendous assistance in structuring businesses and helping businesses to grow.
Oraka explained further that rather than just stick to the tradition, we need to understand new processes and technology, adding that today’s law practice was more than just meeting clients demands.
He said: “Whenever new laws are created, there is always opportunity to innovate but we need to practice within the scope of the law.
“We need to always think outside the box and find out how what is happening around us can provide new opportunities. We need to find out the relationship between law and innovative ideas”.
He added that the curriculum of the Law Schools should begin to push beyond traditional boundaries and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship.
“These will help seek new markets and create or infuse new transactions, which is needed more than ever before to survive in this competitive market,” he added.
While insisting that placing ethics above other consideration remained the key, he emphasised that the time to think outside the box is now.
President LAWSA, Mr. Paul Oyemike, highlighted the support LAWSA received from the Center Director which translated to the successes recorded at the programme.
The Center Director of the NOUN, Abuja, Mrs. M. I. Boro, in her speech commended LAWSA executives and members for their “commitment and dedication” towards sustaining the accreditation already secured from the National Universities Commission (NUC) which he noted were prelude to obtaining accreditation from the Council for Legal Education for the Law School programme.
