At 13th Lagos-Ikeja City Award 2018, Monday Ubani and Prince Olumide Akindiya Won Legal Practitioners of the Year, but the Latter Says No Comparison
It is no longer gainsaying that public holders, business tycoons, royal fathers, religious leaders, celebrities and so on who have impacted lives were honoured as achievers at this year, Lagos-Ikeja City Award 2018. The event was successful and mind blowing, but a surprise that occurred was that two legal practitioners were honoured. The two legal practitioners had made names for themselves that one would intend to compare even though there is gab between the legal practitioner as per years at the bar.
Monday Ubani has achieved greater height in the profession being the former NBA Ikeja Branch and Past Vice President at NBA national level, a celebrated lawyer and a Notary Public, known for his radio programme at Max FM – Know Your Rights. A multiple award winning lawyer, granted interviews on mass media, spoken at event as guest speaker, humanitarian services through his foundation, free legal services, human rights activism, etc. Whereas, Prince Olumide Akindiya a junior to him as per years at the Nigerian Bar. He too is known as multiple award winning lawyer, former columnist with Business Hallmark Newspaper between 2013 to 2015, seasoned writer, poet, notary public, guest speaker who had spoken at various events even outside Lagos State and he is principal counsel of his firm, Olumide Akindiya & Co. Legal Practitioners & Notary Public. He had rendered free legal services to certain poorer people, journalists, celebrates, associations, etc over the years. Coincidentally, both of them were recipients of Legal Practitioners of the Year at different years at Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award; while Ubani won in 2016, Akindiya won this year.
Coincidentally, Ubani was the one who presented award of Legal Practitioner of the Year to Akindiya. A. Sign of humility and great respect exhibited by Akindiya made the crowd clapped for him by hugging Ubani when he got to the podium and through his speech. His speech goes thus as we listened to him:
“It is a great privilege to receive this award from my past Chairman at NBA Ikeja Branch and past Vice President at NBA national level. It is like a father to a son. Similarity between us was that I was a column with one of the Nigerian Newspapers between 2013 to 2015 and I have rendered free legal services to people. I believe my profile gives me sense of confidence to stand beside him as he is a father in the profession. I am grateful for this award. Thank you..”
His speech settled it for those who realised that both of them were given same award in the same year.
Our correspondent interviewed Prince Olumide Akindiya on this and he responded:
“There is no comparison between us, my learned senior is a father in the profession for many years at the bar and I am just 10 years at the bar. He is someone I respected. The gab is like a father and son, but what is giving me confidence anywhere is my profile and I am making difference day by day so it is about contribution. Ubani was not just senior, but his achievement is the key. People celebrate achievers and not years of working and I adore him for that by saying father to a son by years at the bar and importantly, achievement at the bar and outside the bar. To me, it is not about how many years at the bar but making difference and sound in the work. Thank you”
We use this opportunity to congratulate both of them on their awards. Pictures and videos of them are published.