The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Women Forum led by the Rivers State Lead, Dr. Glory OmonighoOzuru, has commended the Governor of Rivers State, Sir SiminialayiFubara for appointing a seasoned administrator in the person of Mrs Ibiwari Charity Clapton-Ogolo as the Solicitor-General of the State.
This was during a courtesy visit of the forum to the Rivers State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.
The State Lead was accompanied by some national and state officers of the forum and other distinguished female lawyers, among whom are Mrs Irene IniPepple ( General Secretary); Mrs. UgwochiAgala ( Head, Membership Committee); Dr Grace Ajaegbo ( Head, Public Sector Committee); Barbara Abayomi( Deputy Head, Young Lawyers Committee); Mrs Lauretta Nwokaeze( Facilitator, NBA Ahoada ); and Dr. RosebellUviovo, amongst others.
She observed that Mrs Clapton-Ogolo has served the State in various other capacities over the years, and as a result, has garnered a lot of experience and expertise to be fit for the office of the Solicitor-General of Rivers State. She went on to state that this, no doubt, is the reason for her excellent performance within the few months of her appointment.
The State Lead congratulated the learned Solicitor-General and thanked her for impacting so much on the welfare of Law Officers of the Ministry of Justice within a few months in office.
Dr. Ozuru further highlighted the objectives of the NBA Women Forum, which is a constitutional creation of the NBA to oversee and empower female lawyers for success in the legal profession. She also sought collaboration with the Ministry of Justice in the activities of the forum and expressed the willingness of the forum to work with the Ministry of Justice for the mutual goals of empowerment and inclusiveness of female lawyers in the profession.
The Solicitor-General, while warmly receiving the forum, expressed her delight at the visiting team, which she said was made up of intellectuals and accomplished female lawyers.
She expressed delight in the forum’s choice of leadership as evident in the team. The learned Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary expressed her love for excellence and advised female lawyers to choose the best brains among them to represent them in leadership positions whenever the opportunity arises.
She reiterated that learning and hard work are the flagships in building personal capacity if one must impact positively on society.
The highlights of the visit were the presentation of a plaque to Mrs. Clapton-Ogolo by the State Lead, as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebration in the month of March; and the conferment of the status of an Honorary member of the NBA Women Forum on her. She was thereafter decorated with the forum’s paraphernalia (a pink rose and pink customised scarf) by the General Secretary of the forum, Mrs. Irene Pepple, representing the Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Mrs Chinyere Okorocha.
Also present was Mrs Cordelia Uwuma Eke, a Director in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, a mentor of the forum and former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Mrs. Eke, who also facilitated the visit, applauded the forum for this great initiative.

A community development organisation in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, ASALGA Team, has donated operational kits to the Amama private security outfit responsible for the safety of the Emohua-Kalabari Road.
ASALGA Team also presented a plaque to the founder of the Amama private security outfit, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo in recognition of his love and benevolence to render such selfless service to ensure the safety of the Kalabari people.
Making the presentation at the Obuama residence of Alhaji Asari-Dokubo yesterday, the leader of ASALGA Team, Chief Aroloyeteim Brown, represented by Hon. Alakeidiema Atiegoba, reiterated the socio-economic importance of the Emohua-Kalabari Road to the three Kalabari speaking Local Government Areas: Degema, Asari-Toru, and Akuku-Toru.
Presenting the address, Hon. Awongo Ikalama eulogized the private security outfit for bringing about safety on the once notorious Emohua-Kalabari Road.
“About two years ago, the Degema-Emohua Road became plagued by the harrowing spectre of armed robbery, kidnapping, maiming and senseless violence, standing as a stark testament to the dire need for intervention.
“So many lives were lost, and the very fabric of our society was threatened by the scourge of lawlessness. In the face of such adversity, it was your indomitable spirit and tireless efforts, through your security outfit that brought hope where there was once despair”, the group said.
ASALGA Team expressed pleasure saying, “today, we gather to celebrate and commend a man whose unwavering commitment to our safety and security has transformed our beloved Kalabari land and its people.
“It is our conviction that every man of goodwill shall recognise the invaluable contributions of Alabo Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, and echo our sentiments of gratitude and admiration of his dedication, even at the expense of his comfort and risk of his life to ensure the wellbeing of his people”.
The organisation also commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for commencing the second phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road project and called on the Governor to establish a tertiary institution in Kalabari Kingdom to enhance socio-economic growth.
Also speaking, Chief Iboroma Norman Wokoma extolled the resilience of Alhaji Asari-Dokubo in pursuing peace, security and prosperity of the Kalabari Kingdom and its environs, adding that their visit was to show appreciation of his commitment to a good cause.
In his response, Asari-Dokubo expressed joy over the visit, saying he was highly elated and encouraged to do more in ensuring a peaceful and safe environment for Kalabari people and residents of the kingdom to live and do their businesses without fear of falling victim to heinous crimes.
He thanked members of ASALGA Team for the initiative, adding that such demonstration of appreciation would engender selfless service amongst individuals who are placed in positions of authority to better the lots of Kalabari Kingdom.
Items presented to the AMAMA private security outfit were customised rain boots, rain coats, torchlight and umbrellas.

A Professor of Economics of Education, Prof Godwin Chukwuemeka Nwaeke, has called for the incorporation of Anti-corruption Study in the educational curriculum at all levels of education.
He made the call recently while delivering the 52nd Inaugural Lecture of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) at the university’s auditorium.
Prof. Nwaeke emphasised that the move would help to combat corruption as early as possible and engage young Nigerians in the promotion of responsible governance.
Speaking on the topic, “May the Goose not die in Nigeria”, the 52nd Inaugural Lecturer stressed the need for all to “embrace attitudinal change from the usual nonchalant and corrupt mind set known as ‘Nigerian factor’ and restore the country to the path of good governance”.
He said “for good governance to prevail, Nigerians must develop the right attitude, values and ideas for greatness, and there must be institutional or structural changes at all levels of government to help ensure the gains of good and rapid socio-economic development for Nigerians.
“Leaders and stakeholders in the Nigerian project must put serious attention on education, plugging corruption loopholes and building the capacity to continually improve the living standard of the people”.
Nwaeke continued that “government’s education policies must ensure that Nigerian education system is more functional and relevant to facilitate comprehensive national growth and development by encouraging vocational, technical and entrepreneurial education that will bestow relevant skills for productive engagement in order to reduce the high level of unemployment in the country”.
He advocated that vocational, science, technology and entrepreneurship education “should be more creative and functional and should start at the early stage of education to inculcate in the Nigerian youths’ positive values such as honesty, integrity, dignity of labour, positive work ethics, opportunities for personal development, confidence to adapt to new situations and change, national consciousness and strong revulsion for materialism and corruption”.
The Professor of Economics of Education stated that such education must be adequately funded and well equipped with relevant resource inputs for effective operations.
While urging governors in the Northern and North East states to sensitise their people towards placing high premium on creative Western education that will liberate their minds and douse radical religious ideology that constitutes insecurity in the country, Professor Nwaeke advised Government and school Management to be proactive in creating and sustaining a peaceful and threat-free school environment, especially as insecurity constitutes a serious threat to the academic environment and hinders academic activities.
He called for funding and equipping of schools with modern security technological gadgets like CCTV at strategic locations to monitor movements of persons for possible detection of criminal activities in schools.
The inaugural lecturer also called for the rustication of all identified cultists from the schools by school Management with linkages established with other learning institutions to prevent them from gaining re-admission into schools, unless after rehabilitation process in prison or correctional centres after prosecution by the law enforcement agencies.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, commended the 52nd inaugural Lecturer for what he termed “five star presentation” and noted the need to tackle some of the challenges highlighted in the lecture to make the educational system stronger and better.