'You Must Carve a Niche for Yourself'
Please give a brief introduction of yourself
My name Lillian Okenwa. I am a lawyer, journalist, documentary film maker. I have a B.Ed in English from University of Ibadan (1995). NYSC at Ajaokuta Steel Company where I taught English as well as Literature in English at the Staff School.
This was between November 1995 and November 1996. Thereafter I went for a Post graduate diploma in Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos (1998).
I started off as a reporter with The Diet Newspaper now defunct at Lagos. I began with the Women Desk and later Features was added to my beat. I spent one year at The Diet before it folded up and in October 1999 became one of the Millennium reporters (as we were then called) to be employed by ThisDay Newspapers. I was on the Features Desk and very briefly with
ThisDay on Sunday before my transfer to Abuja in 2001 to cover Judiciary and Health. Eventually, I was detailed to cover only the courts and along the line I went to study law at Nassarawa State University. I graduated late 2009. Went to Nigerian law School Abuja, and was called to the bar in September 2011. My set at the law school was a very unique one because we spent about 16 months. It was also special because that programme was designed to carter for students from various Nigerian law faculties that had been unable to secure admission into law school. About everyone that had been missing law school got in and we were over 3,000. In August 2006 I resigned from Thisday Newspapers to work for myself.
Then I began hosting TV and radio shows on Alternative Dispute Resolution as well as making video documentaries. So far I have produced two for the Supreme Court of Nigeria – The Supreme Court of Nigeria, First Fifty Years (2006)and The Supreme Court of Nigeria, 55 Years of Nation Building (2009). For the Court of Appeal, I Produced a 3 hours video documentary titled – Court of Appeal, 30 & 3 Years (2009). In 2010 I decided to get more training in film and television so I headed for London Academy of Film, Radio and Television. I also have other professional trainings and qualifications.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a lawyer and if so what were the main challenges?
I have most certainly had challenges as a lawyer but challenges bring out the
best in you at the end of the day. I cannot enumerate the challenges I have had as there have been several but the truth is – as daunting they appear at outset, the challenges eventually mould and make a stronger and better person out of you. It all depends on how you approach them.
What was your worst day as a lawyer?
My worst day in court was the day I appeared for The Nigeria Police and the judge took me to the cleaners. I was so embarrassed standing there and calmly taking the bashing in the presence of litigants and fellow lawyers but there was nothing I could do. At the end of it all, I still had to thank his lordship for his decision. What happened was that I was representing the FCT Police Command as an external solicitor in that matter. Judgment had been given in that particular matter but before judgment was given, the Police never appeared for once in court. I think it was a police prosecutor that was initially detailed to handle the matter but I don’t know why he never went to court. Anyway, judgment was given against the police who never showed up in court and when they realised what happened, I was instructed to explore the possibility of arresting the judgment.
I filed my motion but it was obvious that our argument was not water tight. We could not proffer sufficient reasons as to why in spite of several adjournments we failed to show up only to surface after judgment to attempt having the judgment arrested. Justice Ashi did not spare me. I quietly slinked out of the court thereafter.
What was your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience was the day I got my first judgment. This was a few months after my call and though the matter was on the undefended list, I was so elated at actually having got judgment in my favour!
Who has been most influential in your life?
My father. He had this irrepressible ‘can do’ spirit. My father believed you can be anything you want to be if you hard work towards it. He hated mediocrity at any level and exuded so much self -confidence even in the face of obvious challenges. I guess he rubbed off on me in many ways.
Why did you become a lawyer?
I grew up being told by my parents that I would study law and without really knowing much about what lawyers really do I went along with the idea until JAMB struck and the idea was jettisoned. When I started covering the courts as a reporter, the desire was awakened again. This time I had come to really appreciate the profession and I am glad I finally became a lawyer.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
Be sure of exactly what you want. What do you want to do as a lawyer? What kind of lawyer do you want to be? This is something you must settle within you before even going to law school. Don’t take it for granted as many young people are wont to do that once you qualify as a lawyer money and jobs will be chasing you. The profession has become extremely competitive and so for you to succeed means you must carve a niche for yourself.
If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen?
If I had not become a lawyer, I would have continued with the media.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ten years from now is long way off and seriously I have a lot in my mind but let’s have this conversation again in the next few years and perhaps I will be more confortable making my blue print public at that time. Many thanks for this honour considering that I once contributed actively to this law page.