Paul Usoro SAN hails ‘visible dividends’ of senior women lawyers and leaders

The River State branch of the African Women Lawyers Association Nigeria celebrated its first anniversary on the 27th of October, 2017 and organised a celebration/shelter fundraising event graced by a number of notable legal and society dignitaries, including Chief B.M Wifa SAN; Hon. Ukiel Oyahiri, the Rivers commissioner for Women Affairs who represented the First Lady of Rivers State; Mrs Eke & Mr Frank Briggs from the Port-Harcourt Bar, and the keynote speaker, AWLA President Iyom Josephine Anenih.

Paul Usoro, SAN was present at the Nyesome Wike Auditorium of the NBA House in Port-Harcourt to support and chair the event.

In today’s society, discrimination remains a relevant issue within the legal profession and in many workplaces, with few women in senior positions of leadership or having access to significant decision making. The percentage of women who are lawyers in Nigeria are incredibly low, and the AWLA aims as an organisation to challenge and change this reality, ensuring women lawyers reach their maximum potential.

Speaking at the event, Paul Usoro said, “When women occupy positions of authority, there are more visible dividends” He also donated ₦1 million to AWLA for the construction of a shelter for abused girls and women from Nigeria and across the continent.

The keynote speaker, Josephine Anenih gave an inspiring charge, calling on women to be engineers of change to champion the cause of justice. She also stated “As a woman, you decide who and what you want to be. You do not need the validation of a man to be a woman,”