The theme for this year’s conference is Underdeveloped Nations, Failed Economies and the Future of the Legal profession. In many quarters, Nigeria has been referred to as a failed economy. Without condemnation or abuse, Secretary Clinton pointed out firmly that “The most immediate source of the disconnect between Nigeria’s wealth and its poverty is a failure of governance at federal, state and local level.” This was in a speech she delivered at a town hall meeting in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria with several society leaders and representatives of various organization.

I watched riveted as she challenged Nigeria to look beyond the position of a leader in Africa to that of a leader in the world. With an output of 2 million barrels per day, that should be the case. Instead what we have, according to a recent research by the United Nations, is a situation where the poverty level has risen from 46 percent 13 years ago to 76 percent. Obviously, something is very wrong. And that something could rightly be called corruption. The rule of law has been trampled upon in different levels of governance.

What is the future of the legal profession in conditions such as exist in Nigeria?

I believe that in every lawyer lies a budding reformer. It is with this attitude that we need to arm ourselves and march to Lagos for the NBA Annual General Conference.

Clinton says bad governance fuels Nigeria poverty gap | Politics | Reuters originally appeared on The Nigerian Lawyer on August 12, 2009. Feel free to forward to a friend.

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