ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE , Yenagoa
Practising young lawyers in Bayelsa State have been enjoined to always make integrity their watchword in order to guarantee a place for themselves at the top of the legal profession.
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the advice over the weekend when the new executive of the Young Lawyers Forum(YLF), under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Ewhrudjakpo urged the young lawyers to shun any practice that would erode their integrity as their success in the legal profession largely depends on it.
He advised them to be law-abiding, hard working and show respect to their senior colleagues, insisting that if they lost their integrity in law practice, then they had lost everything in their career.
He particularly charged the new executive of the YLF to strive and make a difference by focusing on achieving the objectives of the association, stressing that leadership at all levels requires a lot of sacrifice.
Ewhrudjakpo, however, gave them the assurance that if they imbibed patience, humility, courage and determination as lawyers, they would surely make it in society.
Responding to the Forum’s request for government to support the hosting of its South-South zonal conference billed for April this year in Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor promised to look into it, but advised them to review some of their programmes.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum, Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Deinmobowei Abila, lauded the Deputy Governor for his fatherly guidance and interest in the growth of the legal profession in the state.
He said the visit was to present the new executive officers as well as the 2022 programmes and activities of the Forum to Ewhrudjakpo for direction and support.