Senior Advocate seeks incorporation of mental health education in Council of Legal Education Programmes 
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Barrister Hussain Zakariya, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to incorporate mental health education in the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Programmes.
The renowned legal luminary also called on the NBA to advocate healthier work standard across the industry.
Our Correspondent reports that Zakariya spoke on Wednesday in Sokoto in a paper he delivered at the ongoing week-long activities of the Caliphate Bar Law Week, organized by the Sokoto State chapter of the NBA.
The week has as theme, ” Secured Nation, Secured Future”.
His paper was titled, “Work-Lite Balance Among Young Lawyers in Nigeria: Stress, Burnout, and Coping Mechanism”.
Represented by Barrister S. E. Young Esq., Zakariya said, “Remember to prioritize your health, take a break when necessary; reassess priorities and take care of you, while aiming for the ultimate success in the profession.”
The Chairman of the panel discussion, Justice M. A. Sambo, there is the need for lawyers to keep themselves healthy.
According to Justice Sambo, lawyers should avoid burnout and stress, adding, “burnout is emotionally-drainijg.”
Also speaking, an elder in the law profession, Barrister G. M
Gana, said both old and young lawyers are affected by the two phenomena.
He added l, ” Stress is a key factor in terms terms of stress. This is a very vital issue as far as lawyers are concerned.”
In his submission, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Commiitee (LOC), Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN, urged lawyers to give room “for disappointments while handling cars.
He also called for more hard work, dedication and absolute commitment in the legal practice.
In his submission, another renowned legal Icon, Barrister A. Y. Abubakar, urged lawyers to try to allocate time for their clients, family and for self preservation.”
Another renowned legal luminary and a Notary Public, Barrister Ferdinand Okotete, stressed the need for lawyers to learn and excel.
According to Okotete, there is also the need for commitment, contentment and the avoidance of over ambition by lawyers.
Okotete further underscored the inexus between a sound mental health and the maximum outputs of lawyers.
He said, ” Lawyers must be in the proper frame of mental health for them to be productive.”
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