Capital Market Solicitors Elect New Exco, as Benjamin Obidegwu Emerges as Chairman
The Capital Market Solicitors Association (CMSA), last week, elected new executives to take charge of the affairs of the Association, for the next two years.
In an election conducted during the Association's 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at La Cour Hotel, Ikoyi, Mr. Benjamin Obidegwu, Managing Partner of Hermon Barristers and Solicitors, emerged unopposed as the CMSA 7th Chairman.
Obidegwu, former General Secretary of the Association and Immediate past ViceChairman, took over from Mrs Ayotunde Owoigbe of Banwo & Ighodalo.
Other newly elected executive members who emerged from the election conducted by the Board of Trustees led by the Chairman, Chief Oladipo Odujirin, are Chike Obianwu of Templars, as Vice Chairman, Odiaka Vincent Iweze of Pentagon Partners as Secretary, and Simisola Eyisanmi of Chris Ogunbanjo LP, as Assistant Secretary.
Also elected are, Joseph Eimunjeze of Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie, as Treasurer, Blessing Choko of Alliance Law Firm, as Financial Secretary, and Olubukola Olabiyi of Odujinrin & Adefulu, as Publicity Secretary.
Apart from the positions of the ViceChairman and Secretary, which were keenly contested for at the AGM, all other positions were unopposed.
In his acceptance speech, the new CMSA Chairman, Obidegwu assured the members of the Association of his readiness more than ever, to work and act true to the realisation of the mission and vision of the CMSA, having played a pivotal role in the life of the Association, first as a member, then Secretary from 2016 to 2017, and Vice-Chairman from 2017 to 2019.
"As your newly elected CMSA Chairman, I shall be presenting, through the appropriate channels afforded me, like the Board of Trustees Meetings, Executive Meetings and Members' polls, in the week and months to come, a proposal for building on the legacy we have inherited, and ways of taking it to spun further achievements.
"I am assured of elasticity of everyone's capacity to support, advice, and where required, guide, as I with my Executives unfold and implement our plans for the further development of the CMSA.
"I am honoured to have been elected as the 7th Chairman of this esteemed Association, and I thank you all for this privilege and opportunity, to serve you and our great Association in this capacity in the forthcoming 24 months. I will not take this privilege, for granted.
"I would like to begin by first congratulating our immediate past Chairman, Mrs. Ayo Owoigbe, for her performance and achievements as Chairman these past two years. Ayo is a fantastic human being, brilliant and hardworking Lawyer. We had a harmonious relationship throughout her tenure as Chairman, and she led the Association well. And, we are immensely grateful to her for this.
"I equally would wish to appreciate the efforts of all the past Chairmen, especially the founding Chairman, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN. It is to your collective credit, that CMSA is still alive and growing stronger by the day. I pledge that with the full support of my new Exco, we shall take the Association to a greater height during my tenure.
"I will not fail to recognise the sagely role the Board of Trustees played, towards the proper coordination of CMSA as an entity. Mr. Chairman Sir, and all our respectable Board of Trustees, we are indeed, grateful to you all", Obidegwu added.
Earlier, during the AGM, the immediate past Chairman, Mrs Owoigbe, thanked all the immediate past Executive Committee and members of the Board of Trustees, for their unflinching support for her administration.
In her report of stewardship, Owoigbe said the CMSA was successfully registered as a Trade Group in the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in April 2018, adding that, the Association has been invited to sit on various Committees and bodies by SEC regulators.
“The first is the SEC’s E-IPO Committee, which was set up by the Commission for the purpose of creating a platform for issuing public offers online. The Association sent in their recommendations, via Memoranda.
“The second is the FMDQ Security Exchange Housing sub-Committee of the Nigerian Debt Capital Market Development Program. The Association is represented in these Committees, by existing or serving ExCo Members/Partners of Member Firms. Mr. Odiaka Vincent Iweze, shall represent the Association in the FMDQ Housing sub-Committee.
Mrs. Owoigbe also explained that the Association held successful Members’ lunch, in July 2017 and January 2018 respectively.
According to her, the Association, under her leadership, also held a successful Business Luncheon in April 2018, adding that, the Association has also established a social media presence, with accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.