Following his leadership roles and selfless contributions to the development of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has been inaugurated as patron of the Ibadan branch of the association.
The induction, which was the climax of the 2018 Annual Professional Dinner of the branch, took place on Thursday, May 24, 2018, at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Ibadan.
Chairman of the Ibadan NBA branch, Mr Akeem Agbaje, described Akeredolu as deserving of the honour based on his contributions towards the growth of the branch.
According to him, Akeredolu’s choice of the honour was unanimously endorsed at the branch’s general meeting.
Agbaje described Akeredolu, who was a former secretary and chairman of the branch before he was elected unopposed as President of the NBA, as one of the best performed presidents who paid his dues towards the advancement of the legal profession.
Agbaje said: “He is a man of outstanding qualities, even in his student union days, his leadership qualities were recognized. At a very young key age, he became one of the leaders whose sterling qualities endeared him to many people and subsequently became the NBA President unopposed.
“One thing can’t be taken away from him – his passion for the people’s development is second to none.
“Governor Akeredolu is a leader who is swift in responding to his members’ problems and has done that consistently for several years both in private and professional capacities.”
In his acceptance speech, Governor Akeredolu thanked the Agbaje-led leadership of the branch for the honour and described the day as special in his life.
The Governor stated that the Ibadan branch of the association had produced several attorneys in many states of Nigeria.
He used the occasion to pay glowing tributes to his professional mother and the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, for encouraging him to attain the enviable height in his legal profession.
The Governor, while pledging his continued support towards the development of the bar, canvassed the need to elect woman as the NBA president.
