Handel Probono Link & Empowerment Foundation (HPLEF) has appointed Chief Barrister Ebosetale David Aigbefoh Esq, as its Patron and Ambasador to encourage legal services and empowerment in the country.
AIGBEFOH who was decorated and awarded during the foundations first maiden/public function and 4th Anniversary called on all Nigerians to patronise the NGO for for public good and the development for humanity to strive.
He said the foundation does not only provide legal services but also renders empowerment to the indigents in order to make the society a better place for humanity.
According to him, the essence of Handel Probono Link & Empowerment Foundation is for public good and its services is not limited to lawyers alone but for the general public in the society.
“Handel Probono Link & Empowerment Foundation is an NGO that is dear to my heart because of the kind of services they render because they don’t only provide legal services but empowerment to the indigents.
“My advice to them is that they should go all out and help the indigents to make the society a better place, because the essence of the foundation is to make the society a better place.
“Whatever thing that does not connote to public good, they should desist from it because their work is not limited to lawyers as it is to the good of the society and the general public,” he said.
However, AIGBEFOH advised the general public to invest in social capital by investing in people to encourage social and economic development of the country.
Besides, he also called for regular visit to detetion centres to help decongest the Correctional facilities and address unnecessary detentions of citizens in the justice system.
On her part, the Chairperson of Handel Probono Link & Empowerment Foundation, MRS OBOH CHRISTY A. ESQ said in order to have an effective pro-bono rendering services, there was need for all hands of all the stakeholders in our justice system to be on deck.
MRS OBOH said whether as uniform personnel, Lawyers, Judges, Court staff, or any other arm of government has a duty to offer humanitarian services to people by affecting lives positively and helping them to secure quick dispensation of Justice.
According to her, for the organization to continue to record commendable progress, there is the need for support both financially and otherwise, as individuals, NGOs, Government Parastatals and International Organizations.
“Our desire to herald the existence of this Organization to the public, Courts, Indigent persons, to encourage involvement of more Legal practitioners to engage in pro- bono services and the need to learn more about what pro-bono entails is part of the reason we have gathered here today.
“You will agree with me that even amongst Legal Practitioners, there exist diverse opinions and views when it comes to pro-bono matters or rendering of such services to indigent persons in the society.
“It is a fact that some of us are not that favorably disposed to the idea of pro-bono services, this is mostly because it rarely puts food on our table.
“I have heard some colleagues say they did not pass through the school on pro-bono, therefore, rendering pro bono services as some of them will say “it is not our THING” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other honour as patrons along with AIGBEFOH are; Barr. George Olurunmorito represented by his wife as Grand Patron.
Others are Barr. Isah Abubakar Aliyu as patron and Dr Joy Mbokwere as patron. (NAN)