By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.@douglasogbankwa@gmail.com
Chief Francis Nosa Edo -Osagie is not an ordinary man.He is a man that is given to congeniality and magnanimity.At a time he was one of the top benefactors of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch -the Lion Bar .
It was in demonstration of his contribution to the Bar that leaders of the Bar beckoned on him to be Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Benin Branch -the Lion Bar.His ascension to the Chairmanship of the Bar is a testimony of the fact that it is not you that choose to the Chairman of the NBA ,it is the position that chooses you .
As he hands over today after two years , Chief Francis Nosa Edo-Osagie can say as Julius Caesar said in the epic play by Williams Shakespeare with the same title as the name thus:
Vedi Vici Vini– I came, I saw and I conquered
Chief Francis Nosa Edo -Osagie played his part in the story of the NBA Benin Branch and he is one of the other two Chairmen of the Branch to have built a brand new building in the NBA Benin Bar House and roofed same ,the other being Razaq Isenalumhe -Bencher .
It was the former American President -John Fitgerald Kennedy (JFK) that said :
Think not of what your country can do you , but what you can do for your country
Chief Francis Nosa Edo -Osagie is a very selfless and humane leader .One thing I respect about him is his sincerity of purpose , his debonair candour and his milk of human kindness.
We honour you today sir as you hand over sir , because you deserve the honour.It was Professor Wole Soyinka that said:
It is honour to honour honour and a greater honour to honour those who honour
Here are some of the trail blazing achievements of Chief Francis Nosa Edo -Osagie -the man who ran the dream team and etched his name in NBA Benin Branch ‘s Hall of Fame;
1.Built a Brand New Block “B” of the NBA Benin Branch Bar House ,roofed and same almost ready for commissioning .
2.Defended Members of the Bar Against External Aggressors who tried fighting Lawyers who performed their Professional Duties .
3.Created a conducive environment for Bar Bench Interactions and a cordial relationship with the Bench in Edo State.
4.Created the NBA Benin first Conflict Resolution Committee that interfaced in multiple issues concerning members of the Public .
5.Confucted a seamless and rancour free elections , the first in about 14 years , where the Electoral Committee had full Independence to act with out let or hindrance .
6.He organised NBA Benin First Free Dinner in about 2 decades,which lavish with pump and ceremony.
7.He with the grace and benevolence of the Chief Judge of Edo State got a brand new land to expand the Bar House making the Bar House
more befitting of its status.
8.Massive renovations of Block B of the Bar House that makes the Bar House a bee hive of Activities.
9.Achieved the establishment of the different court WhatssAp Groups for seamless information flow among Lawyers for Court Business .
10..Under his Administration the Chief Judge of the Edo State High Court issued a circular ensuring that Courts should send sms when ever the Court is not sitting .
11.Ran a very vibrant NBA Benin WhatssAp Platforms that led to seamless dessimination of information.
12 .Organised very successful two colourful law weeks that were a huge exampler of conference planning in Benin
13.Ensured frequent training for young Lawyers on different areas of the Law .
14.Provided the statutory monies for welfare purposes making welfare money available for the designated purpose.
15.Facilated the sponsorship of Young Lawyers to the NBA National Conference,including transport and accommodation.
16.Mads the Lion Bar Football Teams to get into winning ways with the great support and motivation given to team .
17.Peovided support to lawyers who needed same at dire states either in illness or any other state .
18.Operated a cordial relationship with all security agencies which led to amicable resolution of issues .
- Rebranded and refurbished the office of the chairman
20 created the lioness foot ball team that won silver in the just concluded NBA AGC tournament
21Installed closed circuit television CCTV to enhance the security of the Bar house
22 Repaired the Bar house generating set hitherto in disuse.
23 created the first time ever NBA Benin Branch calendars
24 Organized the freest and rancour free election…this was attested to by one of our most active Bar man Rasaq Isenalhume.
25 Acquired two three seater Italian chrome with black leather chairs
26 Installed two exquisite chandeliers at the staircase hall way
27 Produced two NBA Benin glamour news magazine 28 facilitated the acquisition of the 50 feet by 30 feet land space from the Judiciary. 29 installed marble plaque indicating the senior advocates of Nigeria from the state. 30, installed another marble plaque and the bar house reflecting the various Benin Branch chairmen and secretaries from inception 31 installed marble plaque at the bar house showing the various members of the body of benchers. 32 purchased a sophisticated top quality reception table and chair at the bar house. 33 Received on behalf of the Bar two sophisticated Public Address systems PAS cum music system from Olumide Akpata Esq. 34 installed top quality window blinds on all the windows at the bar house. 35, Repaired and refurbished the Bar house official Bus. 36, acquired two sophisticated podium. 37 Painted the Bar house and fence with high end top quality paint including fence .
With the achievements above , Nosa Edo -Osagie out going Chairman NBA Benin Branch hands over the baton of leadership to Idemudia Osifo, Esq., another astute Bar Man.Our prayers that the bar of the Bar will go higher.
Chief Francis Nosa Edo -Osagie will have the singular honour of organising the most rancour free election in NBA Benin History, ushering in a seamless transition.
We wish you the best of life in good health and prosperity as you engage on other productive ventures sir .
Thank you for sir for your leadership and for your guidance on many fronts .
