The monthly meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch, held on February 2, 2026, provided a blend of celebration and renewed commitment to the welfare of young lawyers, as senior members of the Bar rallied support for capacity building and professional development.

The meeting opened on a warm note as Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, was pleasantly surprised by friends and colleagues who presented him with a specially made cake in celebration of the month of February, often described as the month of love. The gesture was greeted with applause, reflecting the cordial atmosphere that characterised the gathering.

However, the highlight of the meeting came under Any Other Business (AOB), when a member of the branch, Mr. Chibuzo Aguocha, narrated an encounter that has since sparked a new initiative for young lawyers.

Mr. Aguocha explained that although he was unavoidably absent at the recently concluded Eastern Bar Conference held in his hometown of Umuahia, he travelled shortly after. At the airport, he met a gentleman and his entourage and, upon learning they were returning from the conference, expressed regret at missing the event. He further stated that had he been present, he would have personally hosted them.

According to him, the gentleman later reached out to ask if the offer was genuine and went further to challenge him on what tangible contributions he had made recently to young lawyers in the Ikeja Branch. He advised that instead of hosting him, the funds should be channelled towards initiatives that would directly impact young lawyers.

Mr. Aguocha said he felt compelled to share the experience, stressing that no political meaning should be read into it, but rather as a personal resolve to invest more intentionally in the lives of young lawyers. The gentleman, he disclosed, was none other than Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, who also encouraged him to invite friends to join in the initiative.

Members of the branch responded positively, commending both Mr. Aguocha and Mr. Akinboro for setting the process in motion. Several members openly declared support, including Hakeem Aponmade and Chief Olumide Oniyire, SAN who praised the focus on mentorship and supported the initiative with the sum of N500,000

The momentum continued as Mr. Lateef Akangbe, SAN, also present at the meeting, lauded the Ikeja Branch and reaffirmed his long-held philosophy of supporting young lawyers. He expressed strong support for the initiative spearheaded by Aguocha and Akinboro and pledged the sum of N500,000 towards its success.

In his vote of thanks, Mr. Akinboro reflected on his longstanding commitment to the profession, recalling that about 20 years ago, he produced over 5,000 copies of the Rules of Court and distributed them free of charge. He added that he has since produced and given out more than 20,000 copies of the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Remuneration Order to young lawyers across the country. He further disclosed that in the previous year alone, he sponsored over 200 lawyers for training in arbitration.

The meeting ended on a note of optimism, with members describing the initiative as a timely intervention that underscores the responsibility of senior members of the Bar to nurture and uplift the next generation of legal practitioners.