Justice Mary Odili and Olumide Akpata urge young lawyers to build practical skills

Sixteen law faculties from across the Niger Delta’s nine states gathered in Port Harcourt on Monday for the launch of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s 2026 Annual Moot and Mock Trial Competition.

NDDC Board Chairman Chiedu Ebie said the competition was designed to build confidence among young legal professionals. He said moot court contests allow students to move beyond classroom theory and develop advocacy and courtroom presentation skills.

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Moot Court competitions offer students a platform to sharpen their advocacy and courtroom presentation skills, and to learn first-hand lessons that will serve them well in their future careers.

NDDC Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku, represented by Executive Director for Finance and Administration Boma Iyaye, said feedback from earlier competitions showed that the programme played an important role in legal education. He said the commission would continue supporting initiatives that give aspiring lawyers knowledge, advocacy skills and practical experience.

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Investing in the legal profession of young people is the most meaningful investment anybody can make in the life of the region.

Former Nigerian Bar Association President Olumide Akpata praised the NDDC for investing in the legal profession and asked its governing board to revive an existing memorandum of understanding with the NBA. He said the bar was ready to deepen its collaboration with the commission.

“Investing in the legal profession of young people is the most meaningful investment anybody can make in the life of the region,” Akpata said. “Advocacy is the bedrock of the legal profession.” He added that successful lawyers must know how to construct persuasive arguments, saying advances in innovation cannot argue in courtrooms.

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Advocacy is the bedrock of the legal profession.