In life, change is constant and necessary. No matter what the
aspect of life involved is, you will find change ingrained deep
within the core of proceedings. Cast a glance to the upcoming
general elections in Nigeria or the elections expected to occur
within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), or even the fact that
society is at a tipping point across several fronts from
socio-political to constitutional and economic ones and one thing
appears constant; change.
It follows then, that transformation ought to be progressively
continuous and not disruptive to the detriment of development or
the future. It also should not be a distinct fragment, cut off from
the whole. Every society must find a way to seek change via
transitions that will ensure it keeps up with industrial change and
ensure its youth have a central role in its affairs.
If an understanding that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow
is evident, it becomes pertinent to ask how willing the current
crop of leaders is to relinquish power. Do they have an interest in
setting aside parochial self-interest? How about mentoring
programmes? Are youth currently empowered enough to handle the
roles of leadership? Are they used for electoral gains just before
being unceremoniously being relegated to the periphery of
things?
To achieve this much sought-after transformation, a transition
must occur. As William Bridges, the great organisational consulting
guru put it, “without transition, a change is just a rearrangement
of the furniture.” What then is the best way to handle a
transition?
Some self-introspecting must be considered first. Is an
institution strong enough to handle the jarring realities that
often come with change? Development always requires effective and
efficient leadership. Picking the right leaders is a compulsory
aspect of this march towards desired transformations. Like former
US President Barrack Obama said in an address to the Ghanaian
Parliament in 2009, “Africa does not need strong men. It needs
strong institutions.”
The bare bones of the matter reveal that a strong institution
not only guarantees credible elections but ensures the most viable
candidates are put forward from a culture that brews only the very
best in terms of high-quality values/ideals. This can kick-start
the much-needed change every facet of society earnestly needs. The
ideal aim should be to focus on true leadership, building on
sturdily erected pillars and certainly not entertaining lofty and
yet futile thoughts akin to reinventing the wheel.
Every year, the NBA holds a conference rated to be the largest
gathering of lawyers globally. Apart from allowing legal
professionals the opportunity to network, the issues tackled touch
on matters of immense national and professional interest. 2018 will
be no different. This year’s conference will:
1. Have keynote addresses and speeches from globally recognized
leaders who have stewarded meaningful change.
2. Include technical training sessions for lawyers.
3. Encourage valuable knowledge exchange.
4. Foster bonding and mentoring between established Bar leaders
and millennials.
Transitions into proper transformation have and will always
continue to spur on the growth of strong institutions all over the
world. Ultimately, building #ABraveNewBar is the aim. One that has
consolidated and deepened social infrastructure, made it part of
the process of transition to the ideal Bar that is sought as well
an equitable and just society which will consequently transform
Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Mr. Abdul-rasheed is the Chief of Staff to the President of the
Nigerian Bar Association and Head of the Media & Communication
Bureau of the NBA Annual General Conference, 2018
In life, change is constant and necessary. No matter what the
aspect of life involved is, you will find change ingrained deep
within the core of proceedings. Cast a glance to the upcoming
general elections in Nigeria or the elections expected to occur
within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), or even the fact that
society is at a tipping point across several fronts from
socio-political to constitutional and economic ones and one thing
appears constant; change.
It follows then, that transformation ought to be progressively
continuous and not disruptive to the detriment of development or
the future. It also should not be a distinct fragment, cut off from
the whole. Every society must find a way to seek change via
transitions that will ensure it keeps up with industrial change and
ensure its youth have a central role in its affairs.
If an understanding that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow
is evident, it becomes pertinent to ask how willing the current
crop of leaders is to relinquish power. Do they have an interest in
setting aside parochial self-interest? How about mentoring
programmes? Are youth currently empowered enough to handle the
roles of leadership? Are they used for electoral gains just before
being unceremoniously being relegated to the periphery of
things?
To achieve this much sought-after transformation, a transition
must occur. As William Bridges, the great organisational consulting
guru put it, “without transition, a change is just a rearrangement
of the furniture.” What then is the best way to handle a
transition?
Some self-introspecting must be considered first. Is an
institution strong enough to handle the jarring realities that
often come with change? Development always requires effective and
efficient leadership. Picking the right leaders is a compulsory
aspect of this march towards desired transformations. Like former
US President Barrack Obama said in an address to the Ghanaian
Parliament in 2009, “Africa does not need strong men. It needs
strong institutions.”
The bare bones of the matter reveal that a strong institution
not only guarantees credible elections but ensures the most viable
candidates are put forward from a culture that brews only the very
best in terms of high-quality values/ideals. This can kick-start
the much-needed change every facet of society earnestly needs. The
ideal aim should be to focus on true leadership, building on
sturdily erected pillars and certainly not entertaining lofty and
yet futile thoughts akin to reinventing the wheel.
Every year, the NBA holds a conference rated to be the largest
gathering of lawyers globally. Apart from allowing legal
professionals the opportunity to network, the issues tackled touch
on matters of immense national and professional interest. 2018 will
be no different. This year’s conference will:
1. Have keynote addresses and speeches from globally recognized
leaders who have stewarded meaningful change.
2. Include technical training sessions for lawyers.
3. Encourage valuable knowledge exchange.
4. Foster bonding and mentoring between established Bar leaders
and millennials.
Transitions into proper transformation have and will always
continue to spur on the growth of strong institutions all over the
world. Ultimately, building #ABraveNewBar is the aim. One that has
consolidated and deepened social infrastructure, made it part of
the process of transition to the ideal Bar that is sought as well
an equitable and just society which will consequently transform
Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Mr. Abdul-rasheed is the Chief of Staff to the President of the
Nigerian Bar Association and Head of the Media & Communication
Bureau of the NBA Annual General Conference, 2018