Kelechukwu Uzoka is a household name amongst lawyers of NBA Lagos branch and nationally. He has cut his teeth professionally in new and emerging areas of law which include tech law, cyber and data law, entertainment and sports law, intellectual property, corporate advisory and dispute resolution.
Recently, he threw his hat in the ring to contest for the office of NBA Lagos Branch Secretary for the June 27, 2023 elections.We decided to get an insight on who Kelechukwu Uzoka is and his drive to become the next secretary of NBA Lagos Branch.
NW: May we know you, Sir?
KC: My name is Kelechukwu Charles Uzoka, friends call me KC or “The Juggernaut” which is my moniker. I am a practicing lawyer and the Lead Partner of K&C Partners –a technology-driven boutique law firm in Nigeria.
NW: What academic institutions heralded your journey to becoming a legal practitioner?
KC: I attended Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where I obtained LLB and subsequently proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus where I attained the Qualifying Certificate for the Call to the Nigerian Bar. I also bagged an LLM from the University of Lagos, Akoka.
NW: Tell us about your career journey? What law firms have you been associated with?
KC: Prior to my Call to the Nigerian Bar in December 2015, I interned in several law firms notably FXE Legal in Awka, Anambra State, and Perchstone & Graeys in Lekki, Lagos State.
Following my Call to the Bar, I served as a Counsel with the Ministry of Justice Makurdi, Benue State during the compulsory National Youth Service Corps program. Upon my relocation to Lagos, I secured employment as an Associate with Chancellor Chambers located in Victoria Island, Lagos. I thereafter founded K&C Partners with my partner.
NW: We know you as one of the rare gems of lawyers who have evolved with technology and emerging trends in finance and the start-up economy. How did you find your feet on the roller coaster of these disruptive global trends?
KC: During my University days, I “slept” a lot on the internet in my quest for knowledge and that was how I stumbled into tech law and legal tech, which saw me venturing into helping and advising startups. I have always had a knack for emerging areas of law and doing things differently. It will interest you to know that I am a non-executive director in a Start-up legal tech company, Creative LegalTech Solutions Limited popularly known as “Wekrea8” where we provide tailored legal tech and branding services to lawyers and law firms. What people see as disruption, I see it as an opportunity.
NW: We agree that every lawyer in Nigeria is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). However, some members are more integrated into the Association than others. Why and how did you get very involved in NBA activities?
KC: I am someone who loves getting involved and fortunately for me my first boss in Lagos, Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala, was active in Bar activities and he encouraged me to be active and involved in the happenings within the Bar.
NW: Let’s talk about your political intentions for the NBA. What traits do you possess which qualify you for the position of Branch Secretary?
KC: For me, it’s a call to service which I wholeheartedly accept. I have served on different committees of the NBA Lagos and those who served with me can attest to the fact that I am a solution provider. I understand the problems and my knowledge of technology will also be put to a better use for the branch.
NW: What do you intend to achieve with the position of NBA Secretary?
KC: The bye-law of the Association already provides for the duties of the Secretary. However, I intend to go the extra mile as I am passionate to see the NBA Lagos branch move from the level it is to a much higher level. As a lawyer who appreciates and uses technology to achieve results, I would introduce innovation and impact through a technology-driven Branch Secretariat through the deployment of a comprehensive and accessible online membership database as well as a more user-friendly branch website.
There is an app already designed by me which I intend to hand over to the branch executive–upon my election into office–for its development and deployment for a seamless interface with members. I would also ensure that the difficulties members encounter regarding the issue of the seal will be reduced as we will have a better and more efficient system of application and collection of seals. These are just a few of my plans. The rest can be read from my manifesto which I encourage everyone to read.
NW: Presently, there is a growing level of participation of lawyers in NBA activities. What policy changes would you support to further motivate individuals to assume a greater sense of participation in NBA activities? How do you get people to understand the benefits of being active in NBA forums?
KC: The Nigerian Bar Association can motivate individuals to assume a greater sense of participation in NBA activities by providing incentives such as discounts on paid Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, discounts on conference and seminar registration fees, free access to some legal publications and law reports, recognition awards to encourage members’ participation in NBA activities as well as work towards enhancing communication and feedback channels, organizing meaningful activities, strengthening branches, and conducting career development programs.
By doing so, the NBA can create a sense of community among its members and foster a culture of active participation and engagement. Remember that the NBA is first a welfarist association that is charged with taking care of its members’ welfare before other things.
NW: Entities such as NBA have often been accused of a lack of clear accountability that would encourage the adoption of standards and principles which makes for quality improvement, and independent and inclusive leadership. How would you go about aligning financial and personal incentives to optimize outcomes?
KC: One of the ways by which the NBA can align financial and personal incentives is to promote transparency and accountability in the NBA’s financial management. This can be achieved by establishing clear financial reporting and auditing standards, ensuring that financial transactions are recorded accurately and transparently, and regularly communicating financial information to members. The NBA can also promote independent and inclusive leadership by providing leadership training and development programs for members. By doing so, the NBA can optimize outcomes, improve the quality of its services, and better serve the welfare of its members.
NW: Assuming you do not succeed in your ambition, how do you intend to impact the NBA? Would your intentions be laid to rest?
KC: I have been impacting the NBA prior to now and will continue to do so as long as I remain a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar. As someone who is passionate about improving the NBA, I will continue to make a lasting impact by advocating for change, mentoring and training others, participating in NBA activities, and contributing to the NBA’s mission and objectives thereby making a positive difference in the legal profession.
NW: If you were to project yourself to your voting audience in an NBA conference using five (5) sentences, what would it be?
KC: I am committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in the legal profession.Secondly, I have a deep understanding of the issues facing our lawyers today, and I am passionate about working collaboratively with other members of the NBA to find innovative and practical solutions to these challenges.
Thirdly, I am committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the legal profession and our society as a whole.I also have a proven track record of leadership and service, and I believe that my experience and expertise can be a valuable asset to the Bar. Lastly, If elected, I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of all members of the NBA and to represent their interests and concerns with the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
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