Barr Okutepa SAN
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Barr. Jibrin Sam Okutepa, has taken to social media to recount his emotion-laden journey in life, attributing his success to God Almighty.
Okutepa who did not start primary school until he was 17 on account of hardship at infancy recalled how he learnt how to repair motorcycle, among other hardships including travelling to Lagos in a lorry called 911 in those days for three days to attend his ‘Call to Bar’ ceremony.
Below is his testimony:
“I have every reason to be grateful to God. On this day 34 years ago, 10th December 1991, I was called to the largest Bar in Africa, the Nigerian Bar. I enrolled at the Supreme Court as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
I spent three days traveling to Lagos to be called to the Bar. I did not have the money to use taxi. I boarded a lorry call 911.
It was a lonely ceremony as I had nobody to accompany me on the trip. But God accompanied me. From 1991 till date God has been with me as a lawyer and legal practitioner. In all these years I travelled to almost all parts of Nigeria in the course of my legal practice. God has always blessed me and protected me.
Were there adversities? There were but in all, God made me triumph over all adversities. Within these thirty-four years, the Lord honoured me and elevated me to the Inner Bar on the 7th of July 2011. God has been kind to me. Given my background stories I am the most unqualified person to be so favoured by God. The stories of my life showed me that greatness is not a function of your background but a function of the grace of God.
The map of our destiny is in the hands of God. Whatever God destined a man to be he will be no matter the man-made obstacles. I was never amongst those privileged to be sent to school. I did not start primary school until I was over 17 years. I ran to primary 2 on the 3rd of September 1977. I stopped at Primary 3, to learn motor cycle mechanic.
I finally got opportunity to write my first school leaving certificate examination in 1980 when late Umaru Fonga as Headmaster gave me the opportunity to do so. I did not go to secondary school at all. I wrote my GCE from home.
Today I celebrate the hands of God upon my life. The story of my life is a story of grass to grace. It is a syllabus of from nothing to something.
When God made a man, no man can unmake him. I am made by God and that is why I am whom I am by the grace of God.
Happy 34th anniversary of being a lawyer to me. God lifted me far above my enemies. Blessed be the name of the lord. Join me thank God who made me what I am today and who is not done with me yet. Glory be to His name.”
