Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has inaugurated a body of young lawyers, Urhobo Young Lawyers Forum (UYLF), to chart the future of the largest ethnic group in Delta State.
The President General of the Urhobo umbrella body, Chief Ese Gam, while inaugurating the UYLF at Oghara, Ethiope West Council, Delta State, implored the young lawyers drawn from all the 24 kingdoms of Urhobo land to lead the Urhobo cause and unity, just as he pledged to support the body.
The UPU president-general who Andrew Obido Esq represented, charged the lawyers to be committed to the body, adding that there will be more benefits when young lawyers of all the Urhobo kingdoms unite.
“We are going to benefit more when the young lawyers of the 24 kingdoms come together. Then the common front of Urhobo would be fought by them. There are a lot of things going on, but with the cooperation of these young lawyers, I think they will work out fine,” Gam said.
Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, who delivered a lecture titled ‘Young Lawyers as Agents of Social Change,’ tasked the budding legal practitioners to aspire for the highest position at the Bar and the Bench.
Citing notable lawyers of Urhobo origin, both living and deceased, such as Chief Gabriel Erikefe, Dr. Mudiaga Odje SAN and Chief Okpoko SAN, he stated that Urhobos have produced professional leadership for them to follow.
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Ekperusi listed technological development, and understanding of the environment among others, as areas the lawyers could make indelible marks among the Urhobo race.
Fielding questions from reporters, the convener of the event, Omeyoma Eshemitan, a princess of Oghara Kingdom and the Legal Adviser of the UPU Youthwing, said the establishment of the forum provides for Urhobo nation a body that can defend it when the need arises.
“I realised I cannot function alone and the best way for us to move forward is to form a consortium of Urhobo young lawyers so that we have a body that actively defends Urhobo territories, should we need defence in Urhoboland,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event included the wife of the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Magistrate Iyobosa Eshemitan, former lawmaker, Ethiope Federal Constituency, Hon. Ben Igbaka, Chiefs of Oghara Kingdom, President of the UPU Youthwing, Blessed Ughere, senior lawyers and externs.