PROTOCOLS

The Learned Silks, Distinguished Senior Members of the Bar, Past Chairmen of our great Branch, Members of the Branch Executive Committee, Learned Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is with profound gratitude to Almighty Allah that I stand before you today at this Annual General Meeting, which also marks the successful conclusion of my tenure as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch.

Permit me to warmly welcome all our revered Senior Advocates of Nigeria, our respected senior members, distinguished colleagues and every member of this noble Branch to this important meeting. Your presence today is a demonstration of your commitment to the progress, unity and continued development of our Branch.

Today presents an opportunity not only to render account of our stewardship but also to reflect on our collective journey over the past year. Leadership is a trust, and I remain grateful to every member of this Branch for the confidence reposed in me to serve.

Leadership of the Bar

Leading the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. It is a responsibility that demands commitment, sacrifice, patience, wisdom and unwavering dedication.

From the very first day of my administration, I resolved to give this office the attention and commitment it deserved. I consciously placed the interests of the Branch above personal convenience, and I endeavoured at all times to discharge my responsibilities with integrity, fairness and transparency.

Although no administration can claim perfection, I can confidently say that every decision we took was guided by our sincere desire to advance the interests of this Branch and preserve the dignity of our profession.

The experience has enriched me immensely. It has taught me valuable lessons in leadership, human relations, conflict management and service. It has also deepened my appreciation of the enormous responsibilities that come with public office.

Unity of the Bar

When I sought your mandate during our electioneering campaign, my foremost promise was to restore unity within our Branch. At that time, our Branch had experienced divisions that threatened our collective strength. I believed strongly that without unity, meaningful progress would remain elusive.

Today, as I conclude my tenure, I am pleased and humbled to state that together we have substantially restored the unity of the Ilorin Bar. We have rebuilt confidence among members, promoted inclusiveness and created an atmosphere where every member feels a sense of belonging. This achievement was not mine alone.

I sincerely appreciate our Learned Silks, our respected Elders, Past Chairmen, members of the Executive Committee, leaders of various interest groups and indeed every colleague who chose dialogue over discord and unity over division. Your maturity, sacrifices and support made this possible. May this spirit of unity continue to flourish long after this administration has left office.

The Land Instrument Policy

One of the major policy initiatives sustained by this administration was the implementation of the Land Instrument Policy. Recognising its enormous potential as a sustainable source of internally generated revenue for the Branch, we worked tirelessly not only to sustain its implementation but also to ensure that the policy received legislative backing.

Although our efforts to have the policy enacted into law were unsuccessful during our tenure, I remain optimistic that under a more favourable administration at the State level, the policy will eventually receive the necessary legal recognition. Despite this challenge, the policy has continued to yield significant benefits to our Branch.

The 2025 Annual Bar Dinner was organised at a total cost of approximately ₦16 million. However, the total amount realised from members' dinner fees was approximately ₦6.6 million. The substantial balance was funded through proceeds generated from the Land Instrument Policy. Consequently, members enjoyed a memorable Bar Dinner without any additional financial burden.

Similarly, during the recently concluded 2026 Law Week, the registration fees paid by members were insufficient to meet the total cost of organising the programme. The resulting shortfall was funded from the proceeds of the Land Instrument Policy, thereby enabling the Branch to successfully host a memorable and impactful Law Week without imposing any additional financial burden on members. These examples clearly demonstrate that the Land Instrument Policy has become a reliable and sustainable source of internally generated revenue for the Branch, significantly enhancing our capacity to execute major programmes and fulfil our obligations to members. These examples clearly demonstrate that the policy has become a dependable source of internally generated revenue for our Branch.

In addition, I am pleased to inform members that this administration commenced the digitalisation of the Land Instrument Policy. Our vision is to establish an efficient online platform through which members can conveniently process and submit applications for land agreements from the comfort of their homes or offices.

I strongly recommend this initiative to the incoming administration for completion and implementation, as it will improve efficiency, enhance transparency and make the policy more accessible to members.

This paragraph would fit well immediately after the section on the Proposed Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Relaxation Centre or as a separate heading titled Development of the Bar Centre.

Development of the Bar Centre

Beyond policy implementation, this administration also paid considerable attention to improving the facilities at our Bar Centre in order to provide a more comfortable and conducive environment for members.

During our tenure, the Branch procured and installed two 1.5 Horsepower air conditioners to improve ventilation and comfort within the Bar Centre. We also purchased three wall-mounted fans, a 32-inch television dedicated to the CCTV surveillance system, and a table-top refrigerator for the Secretary's office to enhance administrative efficiency.

In addition, we equipped the Executive Committee Room with ten executive chairs and eight executive tables, thereby providing befitting office furniture for the effective discharge of official duties.

We also facilitated the installation of three solar-powered security lights at the Bar Centre through the generosity and support of Alhaji Tajudeen Eleku, whose contribution has significantly enhanced security and improved illumination of the premises.

Furthermore, new curtains have been installed in the Bar Hall to improve its appearance and ambience. I am equally delighted to inform the Branch that, the donation of additional chairs to the Bar Centre by our distinguished members, Chief R. O. Balogun, SAN, Abdulrasaq Akorede, Esq., and Dr. Mahmud Abdulraheem, has been produced. We deeply appreciate their generosity and unwavering commitment to the development of our Branch.

These improvements, though modest, reflect our administration's commitment to leaving the Bar Centre better than we met it. I sincerely hope that successive administrations will continue to invest in the maintenance, modernization and expansion of our facilities for the benefit of both present and future members of the Ilorin Branch.

Proposed Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Relaxation Centre

Another project conceived during this administration was the redevelopment of the kiosks located at the frontage of the Bar Centre.

Our intention was to replace the existing structures with modern brick shops integrated into a befitting relaxation centre that would generate revenue while improving the aesthetics of our Bar Centre.

To actualise this vision, we approached our distinguished leader, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who graciously accepted to sponsor the construction of the proposed project. He indicated his readiness to commence construction during the last quarter of this year with a view to commissioning the project in the first quarter of next year.

However, after extensive consultations with our respected Elders and senior members of the Branch, it was advised that a relaxation centre may not be appropriate within the premises of the Bar Centre. The consensus was that the Branch should instead acquire a suitable parcel of land where a befitting Relaxation Centre or Guest House can be developed. I respectfully commend this vision to the incoming administration, as I believe it remains a worthwhile legacy project for the future of our Branch.

Remembering Our Departed Colleagues

As we celebrate our achievements, we must also remember with sadness those distinguished colleagues whom we lost during the period under review.

The Branch mourned the passing of Saka Abimbola Isau, SAN; Professor Rasheed Ijaodola, SAN; S. I. Abaya, Esq; Abraham Esq; Isiah Esq.; Chimezie Okafor, Esq.; Mufutau Salman (Rolex) Abas Aiyegbami, Esq.; S. I. Muhammed, Bolakale Ajao Esq, Abdulrahman Malik Esq Mrs. (Dr.) Hellen Ofuogbe and Buhari Abdulahi Esq.

These colleagues served our profession with distinction and left enduring legacies. May Almighty Allah forgive their shortcomings, grant them Aljanatul Firdaus and continue to comfort their families.

On a personal note, this period also witnessed the painful loss of my beloved father-in-law, Alhaji Abubakar Olayinka, and my dear mother, Alhaja Sikirat Kosemani (Iya Ibeji). Their passing remains deeply painful to me and my family. I pray that Almighty Allah grants them eternal rest in Aljanatul Firdaus and grants us all the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.

Appreciation

As I conclude this address, I owe many people a debt of gratitude. First and foremost, I express my profound appreciation to every member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, for giving me the rare privilege and honour of serving as your Chairman. To our Learned Silks, respected Elders, Past Chairmen and senior colleagues, thank you for your guidance, advice and invaluable support throughout this journey.

To my Vice Chairman, Secretary, members of the Executive Committee and every committee constituted during this administration, I sincerely appreciate your loyalty, commitment, understanding and sacrifices. Every success recorded during this administration was made possible through our collective efforts.

To every member of this Branch, thank you for your cooperation, encouragement and constructive criticisms. Serving this Branch has made me wiser, stronger and more experienced. It has exposed me to the beauty and complexity of human nature. I have witnessed the good, the challenging and the difficult moments of leadership. These experiences have prepared me better for future responsibilities and greater opportunities to serve humanity.

I readily acknowledge that, being human, I may not have satisfied everyone's expectations. In the course of carrying out my duties, I may have offended some colleagues, knowingly or unknowingly. For every action or decision that may have caused hurt, I humbly seek your understanding and forgiveness. Permit me to conclude with the timeless words attributed to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia:

"We are all human beings, and as such, we are liable to err. If we can find the good in a leader, it ought to entitle him to our mercy and forgiveness."

I respectfully ask for that mercy and forgiveness wherever I may have fallen short.

Conclusion

As I hand over the leadership of this great Branch, I do so with absolute confidence in its future. The Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, remains one of the most vibrant and respected branches of our Association. I urge every member to continue to support the incoming administration with the same commitment, cooperation and goodwill that you extended to my administration.

Leadership may change, but our collective responsibility to protect the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary and uphold the honour of our noble profession remains constant.

May Almighty Allah continue to bless the Nigerian Bar Association. May He continue to bless the Ilorin Branch. May He continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you all for the honour of serving you.

Long Live the Nigerian Bar Association !.

Long Live the Ilorin Branch !!!.

Thank you and God bless you all.

SMH Kosemani Esq.
Chairman
NBA, Ilorin Branch, 2024-2026