Godwin Obla’s leadership is multiplying Idoma Senior Advocates — Audu Anuga

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Audu Anuga, has described Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, as a mentor and leader whose interventions have continued to create opportunities for the emergence of other leaders among the Idoma people.

Anuga stated this on Friday at a ceremony in Abuja marking the fulfilment of Obla’s scholarship promise to Ochanya Owoicho, the first female of Idoma extraction to graduate with first-class honours from the Nigerian Law School.

He said Obla’s commitment to mentoring and supporting others had become a defining feature of his leadership, noting that many Senior Advocates had benefited from his efforts.

“We’re all Senior Advocates today because he made a commitment that this is how he wants his own legacy of Senior Advocates to be,” Anuga said.

He said Obla’s leadership was different because he created opportunities for others to participate and grow rather than seeking personal recognition for his interventions.

According to him, Obla had consistently provided platforms through which other people could make meaningful contributions to the development of the Idoma community.

Anuga urged Ochanya to see the scholarship as an opportunity to continue the cycle of mentorship and support by helping others when she becomes established.

“For the celebrant, you have good mentorship. You can see mentorship at play. We celebrate a lot today. We look forward to celebrating you tomorrow,” he said.

He also encouraged her to maintain the hard work that earned her first-class honours and make the most of her postgraduate studies.

“Life is all about hard work,” Anuga said, stressing that academic achievement alone would not automatically guarantee success at the next stage of life.

He further urged Ochanya to apply her studies in Artificial Intelligence and the Law to challenges facing Nigeria and Africa, particularly ethical concerns and algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence.

Anuga said Obla’s example should inspire more Idoma people to embrace leadership that multiplies opportunities for others.

He added that the ultimate goal should be to make mentorship and support for others a sustained pattern within the Idoma community.