Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN Narrates How He Hawked Bread As A Teenager

The Leaders and Members of the Owerri Bar and the Owerri Young Lawyers’ Forum welcomed with open arms, one of their own, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN ( Okwuluora of Ukpo) on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at their Bar Centre, Former High Court Complex, Orlu Road, Owerri.

Upon the Learned Silk’s arrival, the Leadership of the Branch gave the Learned Silk and his entourage a tour around the facility. Learned Silk, Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, expressed his satisfaction at the level of development wrought by the leadership of the Bar. He further encouraged them to continue doing exploits for the Bar and the development of the legal profession.

Thereafter, the Learned Silk had a meeting with the Leadership, Elders and some Members of the Owerri Bar.

The meeting began with opening prayer; which was led by the Chairperson of Imo State Chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria, after which the past Chairman, Lawrence Nwakaeti, Esq. (South-East Coordinator for Chief Joe-Kyari, Gadzama, SAN) gave the opening address and then ceded the floor to the Elders and sitting Executives of the Branch. Some of the Elders and Executives Present were: F.A Onuzulike, SAN, Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, Menkiti Udom, Esq., Obi Anyanwu, Esq., Ekeh Onyeforo, Esq. (Vice Chairman NBA Owerri Branch) and Kelechi Ogugbuaja, Esq. (Chairman of YLF Owerri Branch).

The Elders of the Bar conducted the revered traditional blessing of Kola and prayed for their adopted son, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN (the Okwuluora of Ukpo). Afterwards, F.A Onuzulike, SAN and Eze Duruiheoma, SAN addressed the gathering; welcoming all the attendees and urging them to continue fostering efforts towards making the Nigerian Bar better. In light of this, they called for all members of the Owerri Bar to collaborate with the Learned Silk, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN in moving the Bar to higher heights.

The Learned Silk, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN then spoke to the attendees on the purpose of his visit. In his address, he mentioned to the attendees that he has been a foremost Bar Leader having served as a pioneer leader in all sections of the Nigerian Bar Association including NBA – Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (NBA-SPIDEL) NBA – Section on Legal Practice (SLP), NBA – Section on Business Law (SBL) and now, NBA – Securities Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC).

In his words, “I have been in active and committed service to the Nigerian Bar since I was called to the Bar. The evidence is there. Over 500 lawyers from the East alone have past through the portals of my mentorship for Young Lawyers. The Late Johnny Egwounwu, SAN took Silk in my office. God has helped me raise several lawyers and contribute to the development of our great Nigerian Bar. Today, I have lawyers as biological and adopted children. My Chambers was the first to do Legal Training for Lawyers in Nigeria gratuitously. Our Chambers was also the first to be accredited by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN as a Legal Services Provider. I have established and continued the Chukwudifu Oputa JSC Mentorship Program for eight years consistently.

I am fulfilled and happy; having come from the lowest point in life. I have never said this before, but I once sold bread on my head, I mean, I hawked bread on my head and sold to police recruits at the barracks. Every morning as a primary school student, I would go to a bakery in Kabala, Kaduna about a mile away from our house in Police College, Kaduna to buy the loaves of bread and then resell them before going to school. Then I would be scolded mercilessly for resuming late. My parents never knew this and it was not their fault either. So I have been through and understand the struggles of a typical Nigerian and Nigerian lawyer. I understand how to navigate through the challenges and improve the Nigerian Bar. There is so much to say and but I don’t want to spend the entire day… I thank you all and in closing I want to say this, my utmost loyalty is to the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Constitution and God Almighty”.

The Learned Silk’s address was followed by an approving applause from all attendees. Soon after, dinner was served and the meeting came to a gleeful end with closing prayer and group photographs.