19th Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture gets date, venue

The Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch has concluded plans to hold the 19th Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture aimed at preserving the legacies of the late legal luminary.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the branch, Patrick Agboola, on Friday in Lagos.

The branch said the lecture would take place on January 15 at Lagos Airport Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

According to the association, the theme of the lecture is: “Free, Fair and Credible Elections as Indispensable Tool for National Development.”

It said Charlotte Kesson-Smith, a lawyer, writer, philanthropist, social critic and United Nations International Elections Commissioner, would be the key speaker at the event.

It added that other discussants would include Mike Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, and Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, a public affairs analyst.

According to the association, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike, are among the prominent Nigerians expected to grace the occasion.

The statement added: “The annual lecture is aimed to preserve the outstanding legacies of the late human and civil rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

“The NBA Ikeja Branch has almost for two decades rolled out the drums yearly to celebrate the greatness of Fawehinmi and his contributions to the development of the legal profession and human rights protection.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu will be the Chief host; the President of NBA, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN), will be host. The Chairman of the occasion will be Prof. Akin Oyebode, a  former Vice Chancellor of University of Ado-Ekiti.

“The organisers 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 Independent National Electoral Commission.”

It quoted the Chairman of the event’s Planning Committee, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), as promising that the lecture would  be memorable.