BY YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, has urged female lawyers to always balance their roles as women and professionals in a way that one will not adversely affect the other.
She made the call during a seminar held in Ibadan with the theme, ‘Female Lawyers: Balancing The Roles And Career Progression, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Oyo State.
Bamgbose, who was the lead discussant, urged female lawyers not to allow their nature to derail them from being effective in their career.
She enjoined them to always carry themselves with respect and dignity and share their problems with trusted role models, emphasising that “when you are in a position especially as a female, do everything possible to make it conducive for those around you.
“The way you behave or talk can make or mar a life, but please make sure you make an individual and not mar a life,” she said.
In his contributions, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mr Oluseun Abimbola SAN stated that the society should adequately acknowledge that the same ability in men could also work in women, urging female lawyers to develop themselves and carry themselves the way they needed to be addressed.
“Through your behaviour, you can change the minds of individuals who think that you cannot do the job, by doing this, you will change their perspective.
“Women should always make courageous efforts and recognise that they can even do better than men, never have the mindset that there are no ladies at the bar,” he said.
A Legal Practitioner, Mrs Oluwatosin Ige, enjoined the lawyers to always be bold and passionate about their profession and learn to network early.
“There is nothing we female lawyers cannot acheive once we have the passion, always have a supportive partner and make sure every thing you need at home is provided before you leave home.
“As a lawyer, I have been known through my boldness and I don’t allow my career to affect my home and vice versa,” she said.
The chairman of the occasion and first female SAN in Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, called on the NBA to embark on projects that could restore the olden days of the profession.
Solanke urged them to especially embark on projects that would address female trafficking across the borders of Nigeria.
She further expressed disatisfaction over the trafficking of some women who were used as prostitutes in some countries and called for sensitisation programmes against such.
The Chairman of NBA, Ibadan, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi described the theme of the seminar as apt, timely and needed at this period, reiterating that a woman should be beautiful in all aspects of life and not only physically.
“There is need for us to balance our roles as lawyers and professionals the way it should be,” she said.
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