By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The 15th edition of the Lagos chapter of National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC) annual lecture will hold on Thursday May 23, 2024.
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), and a former Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Muiz Banire (SAN), are among the dignitaries expected to grace the annual occasion.
The event, which has as its main theme “Navigating the Delicate Balance Between Politics, Law, Media Pressure and Public Perception: The Burden of a Nigerian Technocrat in Public Office,” is expected to be chaired by one of the leading commercial lawyers in the country, George Etomi.
Dr Banire, who will deliver the lecture holding at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, is expected to dissect and suggest solutions to the unending debate of leadership, followership, the much expressed Nigerian factors in governance or lack of it in the country.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of NAJUC, Olugbenga Soyele, the Association said that the event is aimed to address the challenges faced by Nigerian professionals in government and explore why they often leave with their reputations tarnished.
Soyele stated that Nigerian technocrats encounter challenges transitioning from their professional fields to government roles, leading to underperformance.
“Some significant obstacles technocrats face in political roles include political interference, bureaucratic bottlenecks, red tape, and inefficiency.
“There are various cultural and societal factors, such as resistance to change, nepotism, favouritism, entrenched interests, corrupt practices, weak institutions, and inadequate legal frameworks, all of which can hinder the impact of technocrats in government,” he stated.
Cream of Nigeria’s legal profession, corporate organisations, media guru and journalists, including the Patron of the Association, Abiodun Olatunji (SAN) are expected to attend the event.
Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) will receive an Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions and dedication to legal practice, media freedom, and human rights enforcement in Nigeria at the event.
Two members of the Association, Joseph Jibueze of The Nation Newspaper and Joseph Onyekwere of The Guardian Newspaper, who have since become editors in their respective organisations, will also be honoured for their contributions and dedication to the association.