O.C. J. Okocha, who was formerly the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, was born Onitsha , Anambra State of Nigeria on June 29th, 1953. The country is indebted to him for his valiant service during his active career.
Okocha stated at the W.T.C. Practicing School, Enugu in 1959 and then moved on to the College of Immaculate Conception in 1965. He continued his education at Government Comprehensive Secondary, Port Harcourt in 1970 and went on to attend the University of Ife, Nigerian Law School, Lagos and the University of London from 1979 – 1980. During this time he was dedicated to his scholastic pursuits and earned his Bachelor of Law (LL.B. Second Class, Upper Honours), Barrister-At-Law (B.L.) and Masters of Laws (LL.M.). He also won the National Scholarship Award in 1974 and was recognized as the Best Student for Public International Law and Company Law in 1977.
In 1978 Okocha began his first job during his NYSC, as an Assistant Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Next he became the Legal Aid Counsel for the Ministry of Justice, and then accepted a position as a Legal Practitioner. By 1983 he took on the title of Managing Solicitor/Head of Chambers for Okocha & Okocha in Nigeria, and remains there actively today.
On top of that he has held many other esteemed positions, too numerous to mention. Just a few of the organizations he has been involved with include the Nigeria Association of Law Students; Nigeria Bar Association; the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association; and Rivers State Advisory Council. He also was appointed as a Life Bencher in 2007, was the Chairman of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and many other honourable titles.
Community was always important to Okocha, and helped ensure that important structures such as a much needed bus stop were built and maintained. He has personally assisted community efforts with his own donations and support, and has become highly respected by all who know of his astounding personal accomplishments.
The Okocha law firm that he established is widely known to be one of the largest in the country. The work that is carried out there is distinguished and reputable enough to have earned him the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, which among the greatest honours anyone in the legal community may be bestowed with. He helped create many new branches of the Nigerian Bar Association and helped bring about a new level of order and discipline to the legal profession within Nigeria.
