By Ibironke Ariyo
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Chibuzo Ekwekwuo, has urged young lawyers and law students to remain committed to using the law as a tool for social justice and human development.
Ekwekwuo made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 Law and Humanity Summit with the theme “the Quintessential Pro Bono Lawyer: Providing Value Without Compromising Professional Standards”.
He said that lawyers must always be prepared to articulate their thoughts and defend justice, noting that the profession played a fundamental role in shaping society.
“A lawyer has to always be ready to articulate his or her thoughts, with or without notice.
“I am delighted that I can commend the exceptional work being done under very difficult circumstances to keep these programmes going,” he said.
He praised participants for their interest and deep engagement in the summit, stressing that legal practice carried little value unless it positively impacts society.
According to him, the work we do as lawyers does not mean so much if we do not affect humanity. Man is not meant for law; the law is meant for man.
Ekwekwuo also emphasised that the law must be used as a tool for social engineering to prevent injustice and oppression.
He urged young legal practitioners to sustain the culture of public-interest lawyering as they progress in the profession.
“If we do not use law as a tool for social engineering, society will descend into an abysmal state where strength is all that matters.
“And where strength is all that matters, there can be no fairness, no justice, no development, and no peace.
“It is my expectation that this will not just be a passing phase for you as students. As you graduate and become lawyers, be among those who ensure the profession continues to serve humanity,” he said.
The PPDC board chairman said that the organisation would continue to provide a platform for both young and established lawyers to contribute to justice delivery while maintaining sustainable legal careers.
He, however, called on participants to remain committed to the cause and continue supporting PPDC’s efforts.
“At PPDC, we hope to continue to provide a platform for young and old lawyers to serve humanity and the justice system while still making a living from the law. That is our pledge.
“We hope that in return, you will commit to this cause and work with us year in, year out, as we serve our country and our people,” he said.
The Law and Humanity Summit aims to strengthen ethical public-interest law practice, build capacity among young lawyers, and enhance access to justice in Nigeria.
