Highlights from the FIDA Oyo State Branch 2022 Law Week

The Federacion Internationalé De Abogadas (FIDA) which translates from Spanish to the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Oyo State Branch ably led by Mrs Olusola Sulayman has a primary role to protect, promote and preserve the rights of women and children in Nigeria. The FIDA Oyo State 2022 Law Week which was put together by the planning committee chaired by Mrs Olubusayo Aiyegbusi, took place this October. Here are some of the highlights:

Wednesday, 12th October, 2022, marked the grand and formal opening of the 2022 FIDA Oyo State Week which had long commenced on Friday, the 7th October, 2022, with a Jumat Service at the Bodija Estate Community Mosque.

This was followed by an Awareness Walk from Ring Road to Challenge with children living with cerebral palsy on the occasion of celebration of world cerebral palsy day in conjunction with Jesus Kids Home for Special Needs on Saturday, the 8th October, 2022.

On Sunday, the 9th of October, 2022, there was a Thanksgiving Service at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Agbara Nla, Adetokun Junction, off Ologuneru Road, Ibadan.

Tuesday, the 11th day of October which happens to be the International Day of Girl Child, FIDA Oyo State in conjunction with both Old Girls of St. Theresa College and St. Anne’s School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan celebrates the Girl Child with the theme: “Our Time is Now, Our Right, our Future”. FIDA Oyo says “NO to voilence, Lack of equal educational opportunities, Inequality, Child marriage, Rape, Female genital mutilation of the GIRL CHILD.”

At the opening ceremony were the matriarch of the Bar, the First Female SAN, Chief Folake Solanke SAN; the wife of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mrs Lawal; Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal Oyo State, Judges of the Oyo State High Court; Deputy Chief Registrars, Magistrates and their counterpart from the Customary Court Grade A; Senior Advocates and many others.

Prof. Gbemisola Oke (former Deputy Vice- Chancellor of University of Ibadan) was the keynote speaker on the topic “WORK-LIFE BALANCE: THE DEMANDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY HUMAN” wherein she implored everyone to promote work-life balance in order to improve sanity. She urged everyone not to over stress themselves in order to be useful to themselves and the people around them, whether family or friends.

The panel of discussants: Prof. Oyewole Oyewo SAN (Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State); Mr. Bode Elemide (a legal practitioner); Mrs. Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo (a legal practitioner); Mrs. Oyindamola Ige (a lawyer and Nursery Expert) ably chaired by the First Female Chairman of the NBA Ibadan Branch; Mrs. Folasade Aladeniyi, relayed their experience on how they have been balancing their lives.

The afternoon session with the topic “Mental Health Issues the red flags and the Way Out” was equally and enormously discussed by experts during the “Week”; Dr. Jibril AbdulMalik and Dr. Olubukola Omobowale of Asido Foundation wherein it was pointed out that one should “cultivate the habit of investing in one’s children and family as they will only be the ones available in the time of need.” and that “life does not owe you; you try, sometimes you fail as life does not revolve around success always; sometimes you succeed, while sometimes you will need to try again.”

13th of October, 2022, was another day for the discussion of a very controversial topic: “PATERNITY FRAUD: EXAMINING THE LEGAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS” and the panelists examined the topic from medical, social, legal and religious perspectives. The Discussants were: Folake Ajayi (legal practitioner); Dr. Uwom O. Eze (Chief Consultant, Forensic Pathologist UCH); Mr. Marcus Williams (Chairman Rapid Response Team, Oyo State); Dr. Oluyemisi Abimbola (Dean Faculty of Law, Lead City University); Reverend Yemi Aduloju (Senior Pastor Light House International Christian Centre); and Alhaji Akehugbagold.

The “Week” also featured giving and sharing with persons living with cerebral palsy alongside Free Health Checks on the 14th of October 2022.

FIDA Oyo State Week 2022 was wrapped up with a Grand Finale Dinner wherein Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN reiterated the importance and need for work-life balance.

---