“Think Africa, think public interest and think change…” is a mantra invented by I.U.
Ikechukwu Uzoma’s name may not ring the proverbial bell, just yet. Surely, it will, in no distant future. At least after this gestation period.
Ikechukwu is not your idea of a run-off-the-mill kind of personality. Neither does he come across as your regular, humdrum Tom Dick next door. Certainly not. Because he is very compulsive. Ikechukwu is, I daresay, a relatively unknown avant garde, except perhaps in the international human rights fora where he is currently plying his trade. Indeed, he is excitedly sanguine. This explains why he is breaking barriers in the legal field. Bringing innovation and creativity into rights advocacy.
The last 12 years has a roller coaster for Ikechukwu, traversing the globe addressing international audiences — advocating for youth involvement in public interest activities and conscientising them on political polemics as well as pragmatic humaman right practices. Remember, the word conscentisation was coined by a Brazillian scholar and educationist Paulo Fereire, whose popular quote has become a touchstone for change agents and political thimkers. He said: ‘Force is used not by those who have become weak under the preponderance of the strong, but by the strong who have emasculated them’.
This profoundly restless young man is a whiz kid in legal advocacy. A prodigy of some sort, if you wish. A master public speaker and communicator per excellence. And above all a change agent.
Guess what, our subject was also involved in securing the legal victory of Dr. Alex Oti, the governor of Abia State at the Supreme Court, two years back.
Until his appearance at the Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) last Thursday, little or nothing was known about Ikechukwu by the over 1,500 students assembled at the lecture theatre to hear him give a reveting lecture on his pet project, the Arusha Inititiave. I use the phrase ‘little known’ deliberately for want of a better expression — not necessarily to diminish his enviable academic stature or credentials but to underscore his amazing talent.
When the NLS’ Director General, Prof. Hayatu Isah Ciroma; the Head of Academics, Dr. Samuel Osamolu and other faculties accompanied the resplendent Ikechukwu to the hall, the students knew by instinct that they were in for a serious business. Osamolu had the honour of introducing the guest speaker. The hall went wild with excitement as he reeled out his intimidating profile, which was laced with his work experience in the United States of America, United Nations, Germany and Geneva, among other places. Indeed, the guest speaker did not disappoint his captive audience as he spoke animatedly with gusto about his dream. No hubris no subterfuge but pure logic. He was articulate and coherent. His pitch and cadence on stage was any thing but enchanting. He wowed the ladies with his sincerity of purpose. A rapturous applause was freely offered by the youthful gathering. For over 55 minutes, he titilated the students on end. Needless to say he kept them on the edge of their seats all through that auspicious afternoon. It was an audacious outing for many observers.
Though, raised from the backwaters of Abia State, our subject defied all odds and headwinds while growing up. He studied law at the Abia State University, Uturu where he obtained a LLB in 2012. Shortly after, he enrolled at the prestigious NLS, Lagos campus. By dint of hardwork, determination and the grace of God, he earned a red scroll. For the uninitiated, it means, he bagged first class in the Bar final examinations in 2013. Thereafter, Ikechukwu was called to the Nigerian Bar, licensed, as it were to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Now, the rest is history.
Within 13 years of graduation, Ikechukwu went on to conquer the world. As the co-chair of Arusha Initiative, his work is anchored on three fundamental planks. They include the creation of awareness on the need for the unity of African nations because of the immense socio-political and economic potentials of the continental. To sensitize Africans youths on the need to be involved in public interest advocacy and the necessity of becoming change agents in every sphere of human endeavor. The object of Arusha Initiative is to drive a new consciousness about Africa so that our youths can play active role in the new political dynamics of the continent.
Ikechukwu’s story resonated with his audience given the fact that he rose from the crucibles of economic miasma to Olympian heights of global recognition through human rights advocacy. His grass-to-grace tale is made more interesting and plausible because he was a late bloomer. Meaning, he found his rhythm late. He however, changed his trajectory at the NLS. Truth was that no one, not even his immediate family members though he would ever attain success in life. No positive opinions were on the dashboard board to anchor his faith on. But by sheer hardwork, positive self-affirmation and divine intervention, he pulled through the rubbles to emerge from the crevices of lowly existence to a glorious global recognition. And the good news is that Ikechukwu is already giving back to the society that made him a champion. Ikechukwu is a global citizen by stretch of the imagination.
Arusha Initiave clubs are to be established in all the campuses of the NLS in the days ahead. Join the train, learn to impact your community by getting involved in public interest activities.
We must however, commend the management of NLS, particularly the Director General for exposing students to the opportunities available to them after law school especially outside the shores of this country. The other day, it was one Mrs. Miannaya Aja Essien, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who was invited as a guest lecturer. She addressed the students on the essence of Appeal and Appeal procedures in the Court of Appeal in Civil Litigation. It was quite an enthralling experience having a practitioner of over 30 years in the Bar deliver her lecture to potential lawyers better known as aspirants. She spoke from the point of view of a practitioner. Hers was devoid of theoretical hypothesis. It was all round practical day to day experience shared on a platter of gold.
Kudos to NLS management.
Peretu wrote from Law School Abuja
