Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku says legal advocacy on issues affecting the region is important to drive the development of the Niger Delta region Region.
Dr. Ogbuku who made this known while declaring open twenty twenty-five NDDC Moot and Mock Trial Competition in port Harcourt Rivers State, told the people that the commission was interested in the growth of the youths.
Represented by Executive Director Finance and Administration, EDFA, Alagbo BOMA IYAYE, he stated that the commission would continue to support the growth of education in the region.
The MD noted that educational materials have been distributed while hostels have also been built in various higher institutions across the oil reach region.
In a keynote Address, former Atoney General of Rivers State, Professor Zaccheus Adango explained that the legal profession is regarded as a noble, honourable and learned profession.
He challenged the students to maintain integrity in their journey in legal practice.
The legal luminary told the participants that people brought their issues to the court to get justice as such, lawyers should be persons of good character with trustworthy attributes.
While thanking NDDC for the sponsorship, he advised students to be open to learning and be vast with ideas considering that the legal profession demands sound knowledge in various areas.
The former Atoney General of Rivers State asserted that honesty, integrity and character were important virtues needed by every legal practitioner.
Professor Adango insisted that lawyers invest in knowledge as ministers in the temple of Justice, saying that practitioners must buy books both soft and hard copies.
Adango stressed the importance of moving with new trends and following all the changes in the legal profession.
Chairman of the occasion, Judge of Rivers State High Court, Justice Gabriel Kio, acknowledged that NDDC led by Ogbuku has made significant difference positively in the development of the region.
According to him, the support by NDDC for the Moot and Mock competition would serve as a good platform for students of the region to be successful legal practitioners in the future.
The Acting Director Legal Services NDDC, Sir Victor Arenyeka, in his welcome address expressed joy that Moot Competition of last year was impactful and considered one of the best in the country by stakeholders.
He noted that NDDC designed the competition to prepare students from the region on issues affecting Niger Delta region, such as Environmental Law, Oil and Gas as well as Sustainable Development.
Similarly, Chairman Chattered institute of Arbitrators, UK, Port Harcourt branch, Emeka Onyeka described the sponsorship of Moot competition by NDDC as one of the best investments made by the commission.
He encouraged students to make judicious use of the knowledge, saying that they needed to think global.
Onyeka admonished them to specialize in a particular area of legal practice.
About twenty law Faculties from Universities in Niger Delta region participated in the competition and were given latest edition of Nigeria weekly law reports.
