Former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on legal practitioners in Nigeria to move beyond the traditional interpretation and application of the law to advancing justice, strengthening democracy, and promoting national development.
He made the call while delivering the keynote speech at the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development, NBA-SPIDEL, annual conference hosted by the Abia State government in Umuahia.
Prof. Osinbajo emphasised the importance of people-centred public interest advocacy that prioritises citizens’ welfare, access to justice, job creation, healthcare, education and the protection of vulnerable groups.
” The true measure of democracy lies not merely in the conduct of elections or formulation of government policies, but in its capacity to improve the living conditions of ordinary citizens”, Osinbajo said.
He warned that poverty, corruption, unemployment and declining public confidence in democratic institutions remain significant threats to democratic growth.
The former Vice President further noted that democracy must be judged on how people feel and access justice, insisting that “a just society protects everyone.”
Prof. Osinbajo challenged lawyers to embrace continuous learning and develop competencies in technology, negotiation, conflict resolution, institutional management and critical judgment, while ensuring the proper verification of artificial intelligence-generated information.
In his speech, the Governor of the host state, Alex Otti, urged lawyers to provide justice for Nigerians.
Otti, who commended the judiciary for its contribution to national development, said that it must remain the hope of the people who are in need of justice.
