0
The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has urged newly qualified lawyers of Ogoni extraction to deploy their legal training and professional expertise towards advancing development, strengthening the rule of law and confronting social challenges in their communities.
Speaking on Wednesday while receiving members of the 2025 Ogoni Bar Aspirants on a courtesy visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja, Dekor said the admission of another set of young professionals into the legal profession represented a significant milestone for Ogoni land and an opportunity to deepen the community’s contribution to national development.
Congratulating the new lawyers on their success, the lawmaker described their call to the Nigerian Bar as a testament to the resilience, determination and intellectual capacity of the Ogoni people.
“I am a very proud Ogoni man. Nobody can marginalise the Ogoni people anymore because we have some of the best brains in this country,” he said.
Dekor noted that although the Ogoni people had endured decades of neglect despite their immense contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, recent government interventions had begun to rekindle hope for greater inclusion and development.
He challenged the young lawyers to return to their communities and become agents of positive change through legal advocacy, mentorship, public service and civic engagement, stressing that sustainable development would require the active participation of educated professionals.
The federal lawmaker also expressed concern over the rising incidence of cultism and drug abuse among young people in Ogoni, describing the twin challenges as serious threats to the future of the region.
He urged the new legal practitioners to use the influence of their profession to promote justice, educate young people on the consequences of criminality and support efforts aimed at eradicating cult-related violence.
Dekor further maintained that individuals associated with cult activities should not be entrusted with positions of public responsibility, insisting that leadership must be built on integrity and respect for the rule of law.
Turning to the nation’s economic situation, the lawmaker acknowledged the hardship many Nigerians were experiencing but appealed for patience, expressing confidence that the economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government would ultimately produce long-term benefits.
He also discouraged the growing trend of emigration among young professionals, urging them not to abandon the country in search of opportunities abroad.
According to him, Nigeria remains their home, and its future depends largely on the commitment, innovation and patriotism of its young citizens.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the 2025 Ogoni Bar Aspirants, Dr Gawuga Thompson Baala, commended Dekor for what he described as his consistent commitment to the advancement of Ogoni land and the welfare of its people.
Baala said the delegation visited to express appreciation for the lawmaker’s support for Ogoni youths while seeking stronger collaboration in expanding opportunities for education, employment and human capital development.
He also appealed for sustained government investment in critical infrastructure, job creation and development programmes capable of improving the socio-economic conditions of communities across Ogoni.
The visit underscored the growing expectation among emerging professionals that legal practitioners should not only serve as advocates in the courtroom but also contribute meaningfully to community leadership, public policy and the broader development of the Niger Delta region.
