“Nigeria is on a cross road, and the students are the intellectual wing of the Nigerian nation. As such, we must free our country from the hands of vandals.”
By Elizabeth Ikegima
The office of the Attorney General, Students’ Union Government (SUG), of the University of Benin, occupied by Comrade Ekene Aninze, has hosted the 14th edition of its Annual Legal symposium. The event took place at the Basement Banquet Hall, University of Benin, Benin city, Edo state, on 30th November, 2022 featuring keynote personalities, great luminaries and students of the prestigious institution.
The event commenced at the late morning hours, at about 10:40am, following an opening prayer by a participant. The opening speech was given by the Chairman of the occasion, who happened to be the MD of Liquefied Resources Limited (LRL), International CEO of the Tony Amechi Foundation (TAF), Ajuwa of Aboh Kingdom; Chief (Engr.) Tony Ameachi. In his statement he urged students to never underestimate the power they have to change their lives and he also admonishes them to make the right decision concerning 2023 as they will be deciding the fate of this nation.
“This program has been tied towards the forthcoming election, the role of Nigerian students and the judiciary in sustaining free and credible election. Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. Your destiny rest in your hands. It is only in the moment of decision that your destiny is shaped.” Chief Tony said.
Furthermore, he said, “The reason why we are here and the theme for this symposium is tagged around the forthcoming election and how many of you who are legal luminaries would make the country a better place. That decision rest on your shoulders today.”
He also appreciated the organizers of the event for the privilege of featuring as chairman of the event, “I count it a privilege to open this event, and I say a very special welcome to our guest. Thank you for been here, our students who are about to embark on the electoral journey in order to decide the fate of this nation in 2023.
“We are not here to talk about political parties or who is bad or not. But, we are here to channel your mind in making the right decision. As it cannot be overly emphasized that, the Nigerian students are the major stakeholders to determine the destiny of this great nation.”
The event also featured the office of the Public Relations Officer, University of Benin, Dr. Benedicta Adeola Ehanire, who graced the occasion with her presence. At the event, she urged students to focus on their beliefs and thrive to achieve success in life. “Greatest Uniben Students! (She cheered the students) What do I have to say? I am here to say that, as human beings, different things work for us. What do I mean?, There are some people who are pro-types in anti-religion and there is tendency to think that there is no supreme being. What is important is that we all succeed in life, and succeed through legitimate means.
Focus on your belief and you will attain success.” she stated.
Praying for the students, Dr Benedicta said, “May the Lord help us all to realize our true self and focus on that which will lead us to become successful in life. Thank you.”
To spice up the occasion, were seated in the hall, some very talented students; spoken word artists, comedians, music artists and the likes. The outstanding spoken word presentation by “Friday Voices” wowed the audience. The chairman reacting to this, out of benevolence, offered the young poet a cash gift of #50,000 as appreciation for elating the atmosphere.
Speaking on the first lecture was Barr Abraham Oviawe, who talked about the role of students in the forthcoming elections, “Nigeria is on a cross road, the students are the intellectual wing of the Nigerian nation and as such we must free our country from the hands of vandals,” Barr. Abraham Oviawe said.
He urged the students to rise up for the nation, and adviced them on the need to think about their future after school. He made them understand that even as students, they wield so much power and that the role they play will determine the future of this country.
In a bid to further drive home the point, the chairman, reacting to the very meticulous lecture, added his voice by simply encouraging students to vote wisely in the 2023 elections.
“There’s a saying that, leadership is a product of society. You cannot give what you don’t have. Let’s do the right thing and vote wisely,” Chief Tony stated.
In the same spirit, Barrister Hessington Okolo, speaking in the second lecture, talked about the role of the students and the judiciary in the forthcoming election. He encouraged students to participate in the forthcoming election. Calling the students to action, he asked with a show of hands, those that are registered to vote and have collected their Permanent Voters card (PVC). He said, “the currency to make the change your desire is your PVC. You have the civic responsibility to yourself and not to any one else,” urging them to register to vote.
Barrister Okoko also stated, “the judiciary haven’t been real assertive of its role in electoral management. Because in majority of the time, I haven’t heard of anybody involved in electoral fraud been jailed; I might be wrong, but, our judiciary must also take its place in ensuring that those who are involved in electoral fraud or violence must be held to account. It is only when they are held to account that others will take caution.”
“A society that does not respect its own law, is a society that is doomed to fail,” he added.
To round off the event, many awards were presented to individuals and students that have rendered selfless and humanitarian services to the school community and the world at large. Special awards of humanitarian services was offered to Dr. Osamiro E. Osagiobare, the immediate former HOD of the Department of Educational Foundations. Many students describe him as a man of selfless service, always carrying the students farewell at heart. Also, Chief (Engr.) Tony Amechi also received an humanitarian award for his service to both the local and Global community at large.
Students who received the Uniben Heroes Award were Happiness Momoh, Ighodaro Ezekiel, Oseni Goodness and Lucky Nepa.
The event finally came to an end, after the closing remark by the Attorney General, Ekene Arinze; who thanked the students and members of the high table for honouring the event.
In an interview with the ACJ UNIBEN, Attorney General, Ekene Arinze, spoke on why the publicity for the event was low. “I think one of the major reasons for low publicity is the exam factor. For instance, the faculty of law just received their timetable today. Whenever you hear about legal symposium, it is expected that law students will feature more in the events. But due to the fact that they just got their timetable, there is a lot of tension.”
Talking about the topic of the symposium; ‘Towards 2023 Elections, The Role Of Students And The Judiciary In Sustaining Free, Fair And Credible Elections,’ Comrade Ekene said, “The point is not quite far fetched from the fact that, we are already in election season. Ordinarily, I wanted to bring something that is strictly legal, but, for the fact that we have Seventy Seven Thousand and One students in UNIBEN, and the Faculty of Law is just one out of the many faculties, I then thought about bringing a topic that affects everybody, a topic that even a layman would see and understand. It’s a pre election year and whatever we discuss now, will form part of what we do in the 2023 elections. I believe that the sole intent of arching out this topic, is the fact that after now, the average student will know that 2023 elections is not worth the violence, rigging or any form of electoral vices that accompanies the normal traditional election. The program is just to heighten the political revolution that is already in vogue.”
Stating his greatest challenge in organizing the program, he said, “Foremost, one of the greatest challenges in putting up this program is that I am a final year student and I have to do my project work. I’m not just a final student, but an individual studying Law. The study of Law demands some academic pounds of flesh from you, which you must put in order to graduate with honours. The issue of limited funds was another challenging factor. Ordinarily, we were supposed to get funds from implementation of our budget; which the legal symposium is a part of. But unfortunately for me, I did not get any from the school. So whatever you see here is mostly as a result of my personal effort; and as a result of the fact that I don’t want history to judge me wrong for not organizing the legal symposium.”
Mattais Vlaar, a 400L political science student, shares his view with ACJ UNIBEN about the event. “This is my first ever symposium. In fact, I am in my final year and I must confess that this program is really very informative and enlightening. It is such an amazing program. Politically, I have learnt to keep ethnicity aside, and rather look forward to voting someone that can bring us out of our present predicament.”
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