In less than a fortnight, the city of Abuja will play host to the biggest gathering of female lawyers in one space as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) gears up for its Africa Regional Congress.
The triennial event, with the theme “MAPUTO PROTOCOL AND WOMEN IN AFRICA: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AS A VITAL TOOL FOR ACCELERATION parades a host of notable speakers with former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi leading the pack as keynote speaker.
Moreover, the United Nations (UN) Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, is Chairperson of FIDA Africa Regional Congress 2023.
Eyong was born 1963 in Cameroon and has over 38 years of professional working experience in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Lending his weight to the occasion, Vice Chairman of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers and FIDA Patron, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, will chair the Congress closing dinner.
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FIDA Regional Vice President Africa (North & West) Joy C. Ejim (formerly Joy Ezeigbo) is co-hosting the event with her counterpart Laura Nyirinkindi, FIDA Regional Vice President, (East & Southern Region), a Ugandan lawyer with expertise in Governance, Human Rights, Gender, Rule of law and Development.
Other dignitaries and speakers that will grace the congress include:
Hon. Justice (Prof.) Elizabeth Ama Oji FCIARB(Uk)
Hon. Justice Ama Oji is a Judge of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division. She was a Professor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She has written over 100 articles/papers both nationally and internationally; including the book “Responsibility for Crimes under International Law.” She is a co-author of “Employment and Labour Law in Nigeria.” She is a two-time recipient of the United Nations Fellowship in International Law, and an Alumna of The Hague Academy of International Law, Netherlands. She was inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators(UK) on 5th November 2021.
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Hon. Justice Elsie Nwanwuri
Hon. Justice Elsie Nwanwuri Thompson is a serving Judge of the High Court of Rivers State Nigeria. Prior to her appointment as a High Court Judge, she served in several associations notably the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) where she held several posts including Country Vice President (National President) and Regional Vice President for Africa.
Ezinwa Nwanyieze Okoroafor
Ezinwa Okoroafor a Nigerian legal practitioner is FIDA International Director. She is the immediate past International Secretary of the association. Okoroafor had served as Regional Vice President for Africa and was once the Country Vice President for Nigeria. An ex-council member of the Nigerian Bar Association women forum she was the national chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation of Nigeria and a delegate to the Nigeria National Conference of 2014.
Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani
Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, principal partner of the law firm of Ubani & Co., established in 1992 was the Second National Vice President of the prestigious Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and later the Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL(Section of Public Interest and Development Law) from 2021 to 2023. He was also a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, between 2012 and 2014.
Nomaswazi Shabangu-Mndawe
Nomaswazi Shabangu-Mndawe is the President of the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA). An association that focuses on gender equality in the legal profession and
the empowerment of women lawyers. She is also the Country Vice-President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA South Africa). Shabangu-Mndawe is a member of the Judicial Service Commission appointed by His Excellency President CM Ramaphosa to be one of his representatives.
Ayodeji Adelakun
Ayodeji Adelakun is the Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of GZ Industries Ltd a foremost beverage can manufacturer in Nigeria and West Africa. Prior to joining GZI, he was the Group Head of Finance of Forte Oil Plc where he was responsible for the finance functions of the Group. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) & the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and more.
Lensa Biyena Geleta
Lensa Biyena Geleta is the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers
Association (EWLA). She has served and is serving as a board of director, founding member, and research and advocacy advisor of several CSO organizations. Lensa is a young professional
passionate about advocating matters that concern Human rights, Democracy, Peace and
security
Mrs. Nfon Usoro
Mrs. Nfon Ekong Usoro is an internationally acclaimed expert in transport laws and project finance. She is the pioneer Chair of the Nigerian Bar Association African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement Committee and served in that capacity up till June 2023. She continues to serve
as a member of the newly reconstituted Nigerian Bar Association Working Group on AfCFTA.
Abimo Toyosi Olayiwola
Abimo Toyosi Olayiwola is the Principal Partner of ABILEGAL Barristers & Solicitors and the founder of Digital Lawyers’ Network, a community of over three thousand digitally savvy lawyers across the world. She coaches lawyers, some of whom are senior lawyers and highly respected Professors of law, on the necessary skills to run a profitable digital law practice. Her contributions to legal practice have been highly recognised, making her a recipient of various awards.
Amina Suzanah Agbaje
Amina Suzanah Agbaje is the Country Vice President/National President of FIDA Nigeria. She has served in other capacities such as the Deputy Country Vice President of FIDA Nigeria. She was a Chairperson and General Secretary of the (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch. Through hard work, dedication, and competence Amina has gained expertise in gender mainstreaming and Child’s rights.
Registration is still ongoing. Members can secure their spot for N50,000, while non-members can avail themselves of this opportunity for N55,000 during the same period. To register, simply visit https://fidaafrica.org/registration/. If you have any queries or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact 08030781825.
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