Special Report
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
The Institute of Competition and Antitrust Practitioners, ICAP, has formally unveiled its professional body and inducted its pioneer Foundation Fellows at an investiture in Abuja, with its Registrar, Chief Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN, charging the new Fellows to live up to the expectations attached to their professional status.
The ceremony, held at Rockview Royale Hotel, Wuse II, Abuja, also witnessed the unveiling of the Antitrust and Trade Laws Practitioners Association, ATLAPA, with senior lawyers, public officials, legislators, business leaders, media personalities and other professionals in attendance.
Ogbole said the fellowship was not merely an honour but a responsibility, urging the Foundation Fellows to uphold the values, professional standards and objectives of ICAP in their various areas of practice and public engagement.
He stressed that the Foundation Fellows, who are entitled to use the designation F.ICAP, had a special responsibility as the pioneer members of the Institute, adding that their conduct, professional contributions and commitment would help shape the reputation of the organisation.
Ogbole further stated that ICAP was established to develop specialised professional capacity in competition law, antitrust, economic regulation and related areas, noting that Nigeria needed a structured professional body to provide training, certification, ethical standards, research and continuous professional development for practitioners.
He said the growth of digital markets, increasing cross-border transactions and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area had made competition and antitrust expertise increasingly important, stressing that Nigeria needed to develop its own pool of experts capable of handling the complex issues arising from an expanding continental market.
The Registrar also stressed the need for practitioners to understand and apply the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, particularly those dealing with practices and agreements capable of preventing, restricting or distorting competition.
He said ICAP would work with relevant government institutions, regulators, professional bodies and other stakeholders to strengthen competition practice and promote greater awareness of the importance of competition and consumer protection in the Nigerian economy.
Among the prominent Nigerians inducted as Foundation Fellows were the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono; former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam; Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi; Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh; Professor Sebastine Hon, SAN; and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
Professor Owan Enoh represented the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, at the ceremony and was also inducted as a Foundation Fellow.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir Mbamba, said the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act and the establishment of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had provided Nigeria with the legal and institutional framework for competition regulation and consumer protection.
He stressed the importance of developing competent professionals who could support the effective implementation of competition law and provide the expertise required by government, businesses and other institutions.
Papers were also presented at the ceremony, with the lead presenter, Professor Uche Uwaleke, represented by Barrister Morris Ayam, who presented the paper on his behalf. He stated that the birth of ICAP was laudable, expressing the belief that the Institute would mark a turning point in promoting healthy competition, strengthening professional practice and advancing Nigeria’s competition and antitrust regime.
Some of the inductees who spoke with journalists after the ceremony expressed appreciation and delight at being identified for the honour, describing the fellowship as both a recognition of their contributions and a responsibility.
They promised to abide by the oath they swore to as Foundation Fellows and support ICAP in their various capacities, while contributing their experience and professional networks to the development of the Institute.
The formal unveiling of ATLAPA was another major feature of the ceremony. The association provides a platform for advocacy, professional interaction and engagement on antitrust and trade law, while ICAP is focused on professional training, certification, standards, ethics and capacity development in competition and antitrust practice.
The presentation of certificates to the newly inducted Fellows was one of the highlights of the investiture, followed by a group photograph involving the inductees and other participants.
