The Nigerian Bar Association held a Two day Retreat for its National Officers, Select members of the NBA and secretariat staff from the 12^th to the 14^th of January at the Old Rockview Hotel Wuse Abuja. The NBA President in his opening speech stated that the objective of the retreat is to gather the National Officers, Selected NBA Members and Secretariat staff under one room to brainstorm on how to improve the performance of the Nigerian Bar Association. He further said the essence of the retreat was to get a clear focus of where the bar is today and where it is heading tomorrow, he also stated that it was the intention of the NBA during this retreat to craft out a calendar for the activities of the NBA throughout the year and the notify its partners at home and abroad.

The retreat was moderated by Wale Fapohunda of Legal Consortium and many eminent members of the bar where on hand to give talks on topical issues affecting the NBA and its National Secretariat such as Expectations of a 21^st century Bar: NBA as a case study by Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Execution of NBA policies and programmes: Strategies, Best Practices and Methods by Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, Capacity Building for Programme Officers and other members of staff of the NBA: Human Resources Perspective by Mr Chinonye Obiagwu, Team Building by Mr. Idris Bawa and Civil Society engagement by NBA and fundraising strategy by Mr Dayo Olaide of OSIWA.

Mrs Lewinsky of the UNDP was also available at the opening ceremony to pledge the support of the UNDP for NBA programmes and indicate the UNDP’s willingness to partner with the NBA in the issue of Election Monitoring.

On the second day of the retreat, Mrs Funke Adekoya SAN gave talks on maximizing the efficiency of National Officers vis a vis their Constitutional functions and NBA Presidents vision/agenda and Strategies for International Relationships and Engagement by the NBA. Festus Okoye a prominent member of the bar gave his admonition on the forthcoming elections, present shortcomings and expectations.

The topic Projecting the Future of the NBA in the light of modern Bar management was taken by Okey Wali SAN. Other members of the Bar who spoke at the retreat are Augustine Alegeh SAN, Femi Falana, Chidi Nworka, E.C Ukala and Dele Adesina SAN.

The NBA President brought the retreat to a close with the announcement of some activities that make up the calendar for at least 8 months of the year. There was finally a question and answer section where the President clarified any issues for any member of the bar or secretariat who had questions.