By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The Rector, Pan African Institute of Paralegal Studies Abuja, Olajide Olakanmi Esq. says the institute will continue to provide assistance on the basic knowledge and expertise needed by personnel of organizations and government agencies whose works relate directly and indirectly with legal matters in order to discharge their duties effectively and professionally.
The Academic don and legal practitioner who made this known during the donation and formal presentation of sets of books to the Ekiti state Ministry of Women Affairs and social development, Ado Ekiti, explained that desk officers and government agencies whose functions involve the performance of legal work needed to be properly guided on the professional ways to address cases they handle.
The rector who was represented by a delegation, led by Mr Alani Daramola, noted that contemporary issues; such as rape, gender based violence, domestic violence, child abuse, child trafficking, injury and harm to women and children as well as right of women and children under the law, need certain level of basic knowledge and expertise.
Olakanmi Esq also stressed that issues relating to succession, and legacies require good knowledge, hence the reason to support the ministry’s knowledge bank in order to deal with its day to day activities.
According to him, the Institute observed the various efforts of the ministry at enhancing the knowledge of personnel, therefore the need to support with materials needful in knowledge acquisition for efficient delivery.
Three sets of books in Family Law, Rape and Succession and Legacies were donated to the Ministry.
According to Olakanmi,
“the daily occurrence of these issues in the public realms, often time finds its way into the civil service, where ministries such as the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Education, by extension, are responsible for providing immediate solutions to matters of legal implications.
We at the Pan African Institute of paralegal studies therefore consider it very necessary to donate these books to assist desk officers in the basic knowledge of tackling such legal issues even though they may not be qualified to represent clients in the court of law.
We believe these books will not only be of immense benefit and value to the ministry but it will be a good source of reading as well as serve as research materials to interesting officers who wish to have legal skills as well as assist them in the administrative duties.
Olakanmi who expressed the readiness of the Institute to collaborate with the ministry on personnel development, said the institute is always ready to provide training and workshop for officers on paralegal studies.
Responding, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs Peju Babafemi commended the institute and the rector for the gesture.
Mrs Babafemi who said that the books, will in no small measures, contribute to the knowledge of the ministry’s officers, particularly the social workers, in the discharge of their duties promised to make the best use of the books to enhance the practice o social work in the state.
“If there is anything we require now as professionals in this ministry, it is definitely the continuing professional development, and this is so apt for us because law is dynamic, things are changing, and day in day out in the ministry, we are beseeched with different kinds of social welfare cases. So, we must be up to date in our knowledge for the effective delivery of our work.
We cannot thank Olajide Olakanmi Esq enough, he is a great son of Efon Alaaye kingdom and we appreciate his effort and his zeal in the development of the people and the development of Ekiti state, even though he works and reside in the federal capital territory.
We will have all these books in our library as well as share some of the copies with our sister organizations and agencies such as the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and the Ministry Of Justice.
I therefore on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, say a big thank to the rector Pan African Institute of paralegal studies Abuja, Olajide Olakanmi Esq for these gifts.
We will use these books effectively and they are going to enhance our social work practice in the ministry of women affairs and social development.”
