President Margee Ensign on September 17, 2021, presided over the induction ceremony of the 3rd executive committee of the AUN Law Students Society in the Washington Hall.
President Ensign exhorted the law students to understand the role lawyers play in safeguarding and advancing the course of democracy in society.
"When we established the school of law in 2016, we envisioned a different approach to law—built on our vision as Africa's development university.
"As our vision statement says: To fulfill its vision, AUN will foster the creation of leaders committed to sustaining a democracy in which diverse people share in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, proficient in creating and applying technology to wise purpose, and dedicated to securing a humane and prosperous world".
AUN upholds values that are consistent with those of an enlightened democratic society, President Ensign said, therefore, lawyers who pass through the AUN system have a special role to play because democracy is built on the Rule of Law.
The President went on to identify the pillars of modern democracy which include accountability for leaders, transparency, predictability, equality before the law, and protection of human rights. Others are fair enforcement of laws and regulations, laws and regulations that restrain both citizen and government actions, equal access to the law for all citizens, and an Independent and effective judicial system.
She challenged the students to address their minds to the crisis of governance in Nigeria including insecurity, corruption, and poverty.
"You, as future lawyers and graduates of AUN, play a very special role in our mission, creating leaders committed to sustaining a democracy in which diverse people share in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship."
The newly inducted president of the AUN Law Students Society, Christopher Nwusulor, a senior, was excited about his new responsibility while affirming that the society had recorded successes since its establishment. Specifically, in 2020, the AUN Law Students Society won the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA).
The new president promised to sustain success during his tenure. Other members of the executive committee who were also sworn in are: Jemimah Pam, Vice President; Jacinta Ogoh, General Secretary; Fatima Abubakar, Assistant General Secretary; and Grace David, Public Relations Officer. Others are Efezino Onyeike, Treasurer; Lily Martins, Financial Secretary; Vanessa Yashim, Social Director; Anita Olupitan, Welfare Director; Favour Abayomi, Sports Director; and Fridauls Bakare, Librarian.
Reported by Esther Onyinye Ofeli