The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, urged the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to tackle the escalating brain drain in the country.
The NBA, the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, described as a sad reality, the fact that Nigerian-trained professionals excel in various fields abroad but fail to achieve such excellence at home.
NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the logo of the 63rd Annual General Conference, AGC, of the association, with the theme; “Getting It Right, Chatting The Course For Nigeria’s Nation Building.”
The ceremony marked the opening of portal for the registration of lawyers that would participate in the conference billed to hold from August 25 to September 1.
Maikyau said: “It is our responsibility as lawyers to build this nation, whether we know it or not. No other profession is positioned to take the lead in the recovery and repositioning of the nation than the legal profession.
“We hear stories of how medical practitioners and other resources that came out of this country are doing well outside the country.
“If you go to the aviation industry abroad, they are there. Check the business sector and even NASA, we have Nigerians doing very well abroad.
“What then is happening in this country? Why is it that when we get out of the shores of the country, we excel? There must be something that we are not doing well at home here.”
In his remarks, Chairman of NBA Conference Committee, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the association has put adequate measures in place, including subsidising the conference fee, so as to ensure maximum participation of lawyers across the federation.
Osigwe, SAN, disclosed that whereas 50 percent discount was approved for young lawyers, those above 70 years of age would register free of charge.