ALDRAP CONFERS “BLUE SILK” HONOURS ON DISTINGUISHED NON-LITIGATION LAWYERS
ALDRAP CONFERS “BLUE SILK” HONOURS ON DISTINGUISHED NON-LITIGATION LAWYERS ALDRAP CONFERS “BLUE SILK” HONOURS ON DISTINGUISHED NON-LITIGATION LAWYERS
ALDRAP CONFERS “BLUE SILK” HONOURS ON DISTINGUISHED NON-LITIGATION LAWYERS
Abuja, Nigeria : In a landmark ceremony celebrating excellence beyond the courtroom, the Association of Legislative Drafters and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has conferred the prestigious “Blue Silk” rank on a distinguished group of Nigerian legal professionals, recognizing their outstanding contributions to legislative drafting, policy development, and legal scholarship.
The investiture ceremony, which drew eminent personalities from the legal community, government, and academia, marked a significant evolution in the recognition of non-litigation legal practice in Nigeria. The honourees, having undergone rigorous due diligence and screening processes, were found to have met the stringent criteria required for the award.
Amongst those conferred with the Blue Silk rank are Hon. Paul E. Usenbo, Sir Sam Aiboni, Titilayo Elizabeth Orebiyi, Muhammed Baffa, Hon. Lawal Oluwafemi, Adebayo Akinade, Dr. Onadeko Damilola Edwards, Dr. (Mrs) Obraori Peters Adeila, Olorungemi O. Bamidele, Senibo Elisha Jaja, Yahaya H. Danzaria, Mrs. Chinelo A. Emeghara and Kennedy Thompson, a Canada based Nigerian lawyer.
The event was held under the theme: “ALDRAP’s Blue Silks as an Innovation in Celebrating Legal Excellence of Non-Litigation Nigerian Lawyers: Senior Legislative Counsel (SELCON), Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), and Senior Legal Academic (SLA).” The theme underscored the growing importance of legislative and advisory roles in shaping governance and public policy in Nigeria.
Delivering the welcome address, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu, SCN, President of the Nigeria Law Society (NLS), commended ALDRAP for pioneering a platform that acknowledges the invaluable contributions of non-litigation lawyers. He emphasized that the legal profession must continue to evolve in recognizing diverse areas of specialization critical to national development.
The ceremony was expertly anchored by Olaitan Abiodun, Vice-President of the Nigerian Law Society-NLS.
While the keynote address was delivered by the President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (CALC), who highlighted global best practices in legislative drafting and the need for institutional reforms to strengthen parliamentary processes across Commonwealth nations.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the book titled “The Need for Digital and E-Parliament Infrastructure in Nigeria: Essays in Honour of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Nigeria.” The publication, which explores the intersection of technology and legislative efficiency, was formally presented to Hon. Paul E. Usenbo, Honourable Commissioner for Ministry of Power, Edo State, in recognition of his contributions to governance and public service.
The ceremony also featured the administration of oaths on the newly inducted Blue Silk awardees, followed by the formal signing of the Blue Silk Enrolment Register symbolizing their entry into an elite cadre of legal professionals committed to excellence in non-litigation practice.
In their joint vote of thanks, Titilayo Orebiyi and Hon. Paul E. Usenbo, speaking on behalf of the awardees, expressed profound appreciation to ALDRAP for the honour, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service in their respective fields.
The ALDRAP Blue Silk initiative represents a progressive step in broadening the scope of recognition within Nigeria’s legal profession, ensuring that excellence in legislative drafting, policy advisory, and academic contributions receives its deserved spotlight alongside traditional litigation practice.
