For the first time in the history of Nigeria’s legal jurisprudence, a book specially devoted to the tourism sector has been published and publicly presented in Abuja, Nigeria
The book, a product of 10 years of legal research was planted by Dr Emmanuel Oluwafemi Olowononi, a Senior Lecturer at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, Nigeria.
The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the impressive event, which commanded the presence of Sokoto, Kogi, Cross River and Plateau states’ governors, Aminu Tambuwal, Yayaha Bello, Ben Ayade, and Solomon Lalong respectively; Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata, SAN; the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Smart Adeyemi; Asiwaju A Awomolo, SAN; and other distinguished legal minds in Nigeria, commended the author of the book, Dr Olowononi, for thinking out of the box by venturing into a new area of legal jurisprudence hitherto unnoticed and unrecognised.
Akeredolu said that he was enamoured by the author for exploring his exuberance mental capacity as a young man to fish out a lucrative aspect of the law that some of them, who belong to the old generation of legal practitioners, never thought of, pointing out that, Dr Olowononi has employed his mental capacity to excavate what has been hidden from the old and wise and adumbrates it for the benefit of all.
The Ondo State governor said that the situation in the country is hard and stiff and seems that the solution lies not within the mental capability of the old, but within the polished superior exuberance of the youths, who should take back their country.
He thus tasked youths in Nigeria to likewise and in unison put their thoughts together and take back their country.
The Minister of Sports, Mr Dare, who was represented by the Head, Legal Services, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Akinlolu Folu, commended Dr Olowononi for coming out with an indispensable material for the ministry.
Akinlolu averred Sports Law and Practice have come to fill a gap and invalidate the dearth of legal materials in Nigeria, pointing out that it will go a long way in relieving the ministry of the burden of searching for legal materials when needed.
The outgoing President of the NBA, Mr. Akpata, said that he had to grace the public presentation of the book purposely because of it being a new area of law and of other importance is the personality of the author as a brilliant teacher of the law, who has a unique style of imparting knowledge.
Mr Akpata pointed out that the publication of this unique book of the law is a testimony to the character of the author, who daily seeks or forays into new knowledge areas.
Asiwaju Awomolo described the book as a gift to the sports sector, legal practitioners, law students and sport lovers.
Reviewer of the book, Dr Peter Oniemola, in his review deftly and clinically highlighted the essential paragraphs of the book, chapter by chapter and revealed to the guests the hidden relevant legal nuggets of the book.
He described the book as an unputdownable product of a classical legal mind, not only meant to fill a vacuum in the legal space, but to pathfind a new course and new professional concern for lawyers
Representatives of Governors Ayade, and Bello delivered commendable messages of congratulations to the author for expanding the frontiers of legal practice in Nigeria.
Governor Tambuwal, who was represented by Mr Paul Kashim, also described the book as a must to be acquired by every lawyer and law student, because it is a novel area of law.
Senator Osita Osinachi and Hon Luke Inok delivered goodwill messages and commendable words for Dr Olowononi, who they described as an intelligent teacher of the law, who is not only humble, but diligent at work.
The Director-General of the NLS, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, stamped the confidence and trust which the school reposed in the author, by not only leading a team of lecturers from the Abuja Campus of the NLS, which include Dr and Mrs Osamolu, Director and Head of Academics, U Ononye, S.M. Rilwan. P S Okorie and others, but waited till the close of the impressive ceremony
The event, which was anchored beautifully and awesomely by Kanayo O. Kanayo and Prof Mrs. Mabel Envierhoma, former Dean of Arts, University of Abuja, the duo, who were former students of the Abuja Campus of the NLS, was attended by Professor Paul Idornigie, SAN, Pastor Peter Balogun, Bishop David Asoore, HRM Etim Edet,
Professor O. Abifarin, Professor K Adam,
Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Vice Chancellor, VC, Kwara State University,
Dr Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, Baba JB Daudu, SAN, Prof Ademola Adegoke, Dr Reuben Atabo, SAN, A. Atoyebi, SAN,
Tayo Fatogun, SAN, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, VC, National Open University, NOUN, Chief Henry Akunebu, SAN, Rt Hon Luke Offiong, Professor Dan Fulani,
Professor Alemika, Professor J. Amupitan, SAN, Mr. Monday Adjeh, Chairman, Bwari Branch of the NBA, Mr Clement Chukwuemeka, former Chairman, Bwari Branch of the NBA and 2nd Vice President-elect, NBA and representatives of NDLEA, and FCCPC.
Capping the event were two testimonies of brilliance and diligence at work rendered by three students of the NLS, Abuja Campus: Mrs Bala Bola Briggs, Vice-Chairman, Elders Council, Jackie Odukoya, and Mr Etaba, Chairman, Law School Students’ Representative Council.
In his appreciation message, the author, Dr Olowononi gave glory to God Almighty for the event and expressed his unlimited gratitude to everyone who has been used by God to make the public presentation of the book ‘Sports Law and Practice’ a huge success.
The book which is a product of over 10 years of research, publications and interrogation of the various laws regulating sports in Nigeria, will not only shore up the image of Nigeria in the comity of sporting nations, but will endear Nigerian sports to global embrace for sustainable economic engagement.
