LAWSA EXECUTIVES SWORN-IN!

An event which in the opinion of many has long been overdue, the Executives of the Law Student Association (LAWSA) Government of UNIBEN have been sworn-in into their various offices, more than six months after being elected.


The event which was scheduled to start by 10am, did not kick off till 11.00am, was held at the Augustus Ceaser Ekeoba Jural court.


Although the event witnessed a low turn out of Law students at the ceremony due to the exams and a contributory lack of dissemination of information by the association, the event was graced by quite a few notable dignitaries, including the Dean of Law, ably represented by the staff adviser to the association - Dr. N. E Ojukwu-Ogba.


In attendance were, Nosa Mosoe - Chief Magistrate Judge of the State Magistrate Court; Barr. A. O. Ewere (Private & Property Law), Dr. M. O. Attah (Private & Property Law), Mrs Oyakhire, International Law lecturer, the Speaker of the Supreme LAWSA Parliament, Nna Victor, the Vice-President of the faculty of Agric students association Miss Zainab Nwabuezeh, were amongst quite a few of the dignitaries present at the event.


The master of ceremony was Daniel Odigwe of the 400level constituency.


The event kick-started with an opening prayer from the President of CLASFON (Christian Law Student Association, Uniben Chapter), Emmanuel Agabi.

Which was immediately followed by an opening remark by the staff adviser, Dr Ogba.

In his remark, the staff adviser thanked the guests present and those represented for coming.
He remarked that "this is a process that started over thirty one years ago and we are sorry that it is coming late, but it's better late than never".

The event which was noteworthily brief and straight to the point, dived headlong to the swearing-in ceremony itself immediately after the staff adviser's remarks with the administering of oath.

The oath was administered by the chief magistrate of the state magistrate court, Nosa Mosoe.

Mr Mosoe, started of by appreciating all those on the high table and then apologized for his coming late, stating that it was due to the exigencies of office coupled with traffic.

He then called on the President elect and the Chief Judge of the Jural Court, to share the oath forms amongst the Executives and the Judges respectively.

The Magistrate then asked all to write their names and date,

 unexpectedly, some minutes later he asked who amongst the excos and judges had signed on the oath, stating that he had not asked anyone to, for the hallmark of a good student is his ability to listen. There were a few laughs and murmurs, when the defaulters included the Chief judge himself and a few excos, he asked that these ones be given new forms each.

Next was the oath taking itself and all the judges and excos stood up and in unison, they took the oath of office, reading after the Judge himself.

After taking the oath, the judges and excos proceeded to sign the oath forms before the various lecturers present

and were each greeted to a hand shake by the learned Judge.

Highlight of the occasion was the speech by the Judge of the Magistrate Court, who implore the newly sworn in officials to take their oath seriously and strive to make a difference.

He said, "It is not what you inherit that makes you, it is what you are able to build with your time. A man's success is not measured by what he inherited but by what he is able to build, so that even with an empty treasury, people are not concerned with your challenges but with the impact you are able to make".

He used the locus classicus of the present administration in the country as a good example.


After the rousing and inspirational speech by the Judge, the President, Garrick Nosa John gave his vote of thanks, appreciating all those at the high table, the Judges, fellow executives and Lawsans. He proceeded to thank the staff adviser for his support to the administration thus far and all the very many that have stood behind them.

The event reached its end without any more highlights, or so we thought until the learned Judge noticed the master of ceremony, (Daniel Odigwe) apparently for the first time and went on to scold him for not wearing a tie,

stating that it was a big error on his part, he however let him off the hook after he apologized and promised to be properly guided henceforth, coupled with the unanimous plea from Lawsans in attendance for his forgiveness when asked by the Judge.

After a group photo with the judge and lecturers present

 the event was brought to a close with a closing prayer by the CALSAN president (Catholic Law Students Association) President, Mr James Uro.

ULP would like to state that commendably, despite the end of exams and the short notice, all the Judges and Executives were present for the ceremony save the conspicuous absence of the Director of Socials ( Smith Egharevba) and Treasurer (Toby Nazzar).







Report by gafar.