JOYCE ODUAH FICMC PRESENTATION AT LIBERTY CHAMBER, AJAYI CROWTHER UNIVERSITY ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE TOPIC LAW IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD ON THE 5TH OF JUNE, 2023
THEME: The Creation of Financial Stability, Security and Innovation among Young Lawyers
TOPIC: Law in the Outside World
PLEASANTRIES
Good afternoon Vice Chancellor, The Dean and Lecturers of the Faculty of Law, the Head Students Affairs, Distinguished Colleagues, Executives and members of the Liberty Chambers of Ajayi Crowther University and my dear students. My name is Joyce Oduah, Principal Partner of Joyce & Okey Oduah LP, the Vice President West Africa, Pan Africa Lawyers Union (PALU) and Past General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). It is indeed a great pleasure to be speaking to you today at this auspicious occasion — the Liberty Chamber Annual Conference — with the theme Financial Stability, Security and Innovation among Young Lawyers.
I have been tasked by your executives to speak to you on an interesting topic, Law in the Outside World. This means Law outside the walls of the University; or if we are to phrase in form of a question, what next after university?
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF LAW
In the year 1990, I graduated from the faculty of law in the University of Lagos, Akoka where I learnt the theoretical aspects of law. Like you, I did Constitutional Law, Legal Methods, Legal System, Tort, Contract, Commercial Transactions, Family Law, land Law, Equity, Company Law and Law of Evidence to mention a few. In 1991, I attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, where I was trained in the practice of Law. Then we had only one Law School. If you intend to practice law, Law School would be the next stage for you. Then, in 1991 to 1992, I participated in the Compulsory National Youth Service Corps and served as a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Ogun State. After service, I left the public for private practice as an In-house counsel in an Oil & Gas Firm, General Oil Ltd. In 1996 to 1997, I started and completed my Masters Programme in the University of Lagos. During my Masters, I got into active legal practice as an Associate in the Law Firm of Steve Chigbo & Co. In 1997, I started my Law firm.
The firm has grown over the years to become a full service commercial and litigation law firm. Of course, I have participated actively in Local and International Bar leadership; from being First Asst. Secretary, 2000, Publicity Secretary, 2007-2009, Social Secretary, 2009-2011, in the Lagos Branch of the NBA, National Treasurer of the NBA, 2012-2014; General Secretary NBA, 2020-2022, Council Member of the International Bar Association, IBA and Common Wealth Lawyers Association and presently the Vice President West Africa, African Lawyers Union, PALU.