Nimi Walson-Jack @ 60

A man of distinction recently turned 60. He is Hon. Nimisoere Walson-Jack, a name that rings a bell in many quarters within and beyond the shores of this country. Born on November 15, 1963 in Owerri, Imo State, Hon. Walson-Jack proudly hails from Abonnema in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. The father of two is married to an amiable and distinguished woman, Dame Didi Walson-Jack.
Hon. Walson-Jack’s educational journey began at State School, Bori, where he schooled from 1970 to 1974. He continued his academic pursuits at the prestigious Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, from 1974 to 1979. It was at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe, that he furthered his studies from 1979 to 1983, earning an LL.B. (Hons) degree. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School from 1983 to 1984, solidifying his path as a legal practitioner.
From the National Youth Service Corps, Nimi exhibited integrity and hard work which earned him a national merit award, the beginning of outstanding performances that took him into politics quite early as a representative of the youth in the 1988 Constituent Assembly from where he became acquainted with the cream of Nigeria’s political class, paving way for many duties that later came his way.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hon. Walson-Jack who later acquired a master’s degree in Criminology has demonstrated expertise in various fields, including law, criminology, civic education, and advocacy for pro-democracy, human rights, and civil society causes. His versatility is evident as he effectively blends legal practice with active involvement in academia, public service, politics, and civil society initiatives.
He owes much of his success to hard work, discipline and a penchant for taking on extra responsibilities
His profound under-standing of public policy helped this worthy son of the Niger Delta to make significant contributions as a policy analyst and a respected publisher. His written works encompass a wide range of subjects and have been featured in reputable newspapers and magazines, solidifying his reputation as a thought leader and intellectual in his field.
Hon. Walson-Jack’s influence extends to legal associations, where he served with distinction as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association from August 2004 to August 2006. During this tenure, he showcased remarkable leadership skills and unwavering dedication to advancing the legal profession. Furthermore, his commitment to the betterment of society led him to the role of Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, where he served diligently from November 2007 to November 2011, fostering constructive public discourse and promoting active civic engagement.
His greatest achievement is in the area of mentoring groups and individuals to become better aware of their rights and obligations and opening their eyes to state obligations to the citizenry. He preaches participatory and good governance to the young and adults. To his credit, a civic education project, ‘We the People” brought Nigerian pupils/students from all parts of the country to learn to identify and solve community programmes, laying a foundation for early leadership.
Nimi is an exponent of leadership as a collective effort that works best when approached from different levels as a team, as the traditional top-bottom style has failed in Nigeria. He is also a strong supporter and builder of women, who helped very much in building the capacity of FIDA, Rivers State. Many of his disciples are today chief executives of their organizations thanks to his passion for building a strong society that respects the rule of law. He is one governor Rivers State missed to engage.
On this joyous occasion of his 60th birthday, we salute Hon. Nimisoere Walson-Jack for his outstanding contributions to society, his exemplary achievements across multiple domains, and his unwavering commitment to the principles of justice, democracy, and human rights.