Y. C. MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FULFILS CAMPAIGN PROMISE; MEETS WITH TEAM UNICAL: AFRICAN CHAMPIONS OF THE MANFRED LACHS SPACE LAW MOOT COMPETITION

ABUJA, October 12, 2023 – In a resounding demonstration of his commitment to campaign promises embodied in his manifesto, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, OON, SAN, warmly welcomed a delegation of accomplished law students from the University of Calabar.

These exceptional students are: Omma-Agbon Musa Zaiki, Richard Felix Uche and Victory Akpoiroro. They were accompanied by their coach and staff adviser Ms Uruegi Anne Agi

The meeting was a tangible expression of President Maikyau’s vision to champion the growth of young legal minds, as outlined in his campaign manifesto.

These students had achieved unparalleled success in the 32nd Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, representing not only their university but the entirety of Africa.

The team distinguished themselves as African Regional Champions of the Competition and proceeded to the global rounds, securing a spot as semi-finalists in Baku, Azerbaijan. In a gesture of recognition and support for their outstanding achievements, President Maikyau personally met with the victorious students.

During the meeting, President Maikyau conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the students for their exemplary performance on the international stage. He praised their dedication, unwavering commitment, and the tenacity that led to their remarkable victory.

Emphasizing the importance of nurturing young and bright legal minds who will contribute to the legal profession, President Maikyau lauded the students for serving as ambassadors not only for Nigeria but for the entire African continent. He asserted that their accomplishments were a testament to the nation’s legal prowess on a global scale.

President Maikyau also provided valuable counsel to the young legal minds, emphasizing the importance of remaining focused and diligent in their legal pursuits. He highlighted the crucial role of young, bright lawyers who specialize in their niche areas in the legal profession, underscoring that the team’s accomplishments have brought honor to Nigeria and encouraging them to continue to excel.

The University of Calabar’s triumphant team, expressed their gratitude to President Maikyau for his unwavering support in fulfilling their campaign promise to promote legal education and championing the cause of young law students.

Omma-Agbon Musa, President of the International Law Students Association, University of Calabar Chapter, on behalf of the team, expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the NBA President and provided a concise overview of the association’s mission and goals. Ms. Musa, as a token of appreciation, presented the NBA President with a letter expressing their gratitude and conferred upon him the honorary title of ‘Grand Patron of ILSA – UCC’; accompanying this title was the bestowment of a Golden Medal.

Furthermore, Richard Chikeziri Felix-Uche, the Lead Agent of the winning team, provided a comprehensive overview of the competition and conveyed profound appreciation to President Maikyau. As a token of gratitude, he presented souvenirs from Baku, Azerbaijan to the President, further cementing the appreciation for the NBA’s support.

Victory Akpoiroro, the 3rd member of the team and Agent 2, was invited to present the award won by the team to President Maikyau, signifying their remarkable achievement as Semi-finalists.

President Maikyau took a moment to recognize the invaluable role played by the team’s coach, Barrister Anne Agi, who provided exceptional coaching and guidance to the team.

President Maikyau concluded the meeting by reiterating the significance of the team’s passion for space law, highlighting the growing importance of this emerging legal field. He encouraged the students to continue nurturing their passion as it is an area of law that requires the involvement of young, vibrant, and intelligent lawyers to foster its growth and development in the legal profession. The NBA President also presented gifts to the team, offering continued support and motivation for their future endeavors.

The visit was a concrete demonstration of President Maikyau’s dedication to fulfilling his campaign promises by actively supporting and encouraging young legal talents, fostering the development of law students across Nigerian universities, as outlined in his manifesto. The visit also underscored President Maikyau’s commitment to promoting legal education in alignment with his campaign promise of legal education reform and the advancement of legal education in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association under Y. C. Maikyau is dedicated to facilitating the prosperity of legal professionals and upholding the standards of legal education in the country.