TIPS FOR SURVIVING A RECESSION BY PASTOR OLU OLUGBAMILA

TIPS FOR SURVIVING A RECESSION

FOUNDATION SCRIPTURES:
2 Kings 6:25-29 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. 26 Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"(Jehoram, son of Ahab) 27 And he said, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?" 28 Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' 29 So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son."

2 Kings 7:1-2 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
We can draw a remarkable parallel between what is happening in our world today and the situation in Israel (particularly the capital city of Samaria) in the days of Prophet Elisha!
What should you do to prepare for a recession?
1. DON’T EAT YOUR SEED – that’s your future and your posterity! Those women conspired to eat their ‘seed’( their sons!) Don’t take a far reaching step in a temporary situation. e.g: the tithe is the first thing affected once your income is threatened. If you know that you will need a miracle sometime in your future, don’t take the Miracle Worker out of your financial equations.
2. NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION EXCEPT GOD – Not America, not Obama, not Nigeria, not Yar’adua. You must look on to God to keep you through this season. The king that the woman ran to couldn’t help her... "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?" I quote Obama: ‘there is no silver nullet approach to this problem’
3. Assess your job situation. In a recession, no one is insulated from layoffs. There are jobs and sectors of the economy that are very vulnerable. Examples are incomes that depend on sales commissions - particularly on consumer goods like cars or electronic appliances – such people could see their incomes pinched. Wisdom and knowledge can bring some measure of stability in these times (Is. 33:6).
4. Whether or not you have lost a job, consider investigating or training for a 2nd career. The more versatile you are the more chances you have of being gainfully employed during a recession. Learn new skills and stay employed.
Most people do not lose their jobs during a recession, so there is little need for you to panic. However, job loss certainly does happen, and companies will be looking more closely at the contributions each employee makes. If you feel some downsizing is on its way and your job may be at risk, remove the risk as a possibility. Surviving a recession is extremely difficult if you lack employment. Take this time to learn new skills and deepen your abilities, position and value at work. The more you know, the more valuable you are and the less likely the company will be to let you go. You may also be able to use these new skills to earn some extra income by freelancing or doing some consulting work on the side.
The closer you are to being a 5-talent man the better off you are. David was a prime example. He had 7 skills. He was already anointed to be king. But that position was not yet vacant. What did he do? He went right back to work for his father as a shepherd (probably for no salary at all!). Soon he got a palace job as a harp player, next as Saul’s ADC (armour bearer) and ultimately as the commander of the army of Israel. When he fell out with Saul and had to run away from Israel, he became a contract soldier for the King of the philistines! Paul trained as a tent maker in spite of the fact that he was a lawyer. His tent making skills sustained him while his ministry work took him around the world. Learn some basic skills! The more basic the better. You may have a PhD, but if it cannot get you a job in an ivory tower, consider getting a job as a Pot Hole Digger to feed your family!
5. Build an emergency fund. You should have at least three to six months' of living expenses in a safe place such as a fixed deposit or savings account. (Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. Prov 6:8). If you don't have an emergency fund yet, here are some ways to build one:
a. Reduce spending on nonessentials such as cable TV, restaurants and entertainment.
b. Increase your income by working more hours or getting a second job.
c. Continue contributing enough to your retirement plan to get the full employer match, but consider putting any extra savings in your emergency fund until it is sufficient.
6. Don't spend to relieve anxiety. According to a research study; "When people become anxious around job loss, ironically, they will spend more”. Shopping is one of the most psychologically soothing activities we have. Be wise and spend wisely!
7. Avoid escapism. It is easy to fall into escapism when things are not going so well and you’re attempting to survive a recession. Don’t pick vices such as drinking, gambling, staying out late, etc just to “escape” your problems. The Great Depression in America is referred to as the Golden Age of Hollywood, due to the huge success the theatres enjoyed during this time. Casinos and liquor purveyors also experience up ticks during recessions as people try to gamble and drink away their problems. However, you should pay more attention to such expenses now, when you are focused on surviving the recession, than when things are going well. Make a conscious effort to reduce frivolous spending and note that every retailer is doing what they can to capitalize on these down times -- they know that things are bad for people, and their marketing tactics can make an escape into shopping or entertainment awfully enticing. Simply put, do not pretend that you are not affected by a recession -- you are.Even if you are among the select few with enough means to not even notice the problem, rather than continuing to spend freely, consider diverting some additional cash to investments or finding a good deal on real estate or a new car (if you need one). If you absolutely must escape, consider volunteering for a cause you support. This is an excellent way to have a good time, escape and do it for free.
8. Monitor your investments. When the stock market is on a downward spiral like it is now, you have two choices: either cash in now or hold for the long wait.
9. Consider diversification into the property market. While this sector is not recession proof, it is one of the sectors in our economy where demand far outstrips supply, especially residential low end. Avoid the Ikoyi, V/I, Lekki high end market as the property market is going to experience price reduction.
10. Reduce debt. It should always be in your financial plan to reduce your debt rather than to increase it, but this is especially important during slower economic times. If you can see the writing on the wall, do what you can to reduce your debt, particularly bank loans and leases as much as possible.

For personal debts, you need to pay off because your creditor is going to put pressure on you to pay. You don’t need such distractions at this time. Of course I’m assuming you are not the kind of person that will give an excuse for not paying what you owe. (... He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; Psalms 15:4)
11. Don’t run from stocks. During a recession, the stock market tends to perform poorly. Naturally, in the interest of surviving a recession, the temptation to get out of all of your stocks and flock to Fixed deposits and savings accounts is very strong. Of course, there is nothing wrong with feeling secure, but look for buying opportunities also in these slower stock market times.

If you have a long-term time frame of mind and some extra cash on hand, you may be able to buy stock in very established companies at relatively low prices. So, if you have the patience and intestinal fortitude, you can position yourself nicely for the next market run once the economy gets back in gear.
12. Evaluate spending & update your budget. Whether you’re surviving a recession or not, you should always monitor your spending and have a constructive approach toward budgeting -- we all know this and read about it daily. However, in reality, most of us tend to shy away from budgeting, especially when things are going well.13. In surviving a recession, don't fall victim to vices. There are con artisits out there ready to swindle you out of your hard earned money. Remember that woman who complained to the king was conned by the other woman into giving up her son for dinner. Don’t be quick to part with your money. Also compare services, find new quotes and even get creative about your recurring expenses

14. Position to reap the recession. Recessions are a very natural part of any economy. And while we need to be mindful of the impact recessions have on our lives, there is no reason to run and hide. Simply paying attention to your actions will help you conserve cash and make things easier until the economy comes back around. Furthermore, if you are among the bold, you may be able to lock in exceptional gains and profits by investing while the market is low.
15. Consider others and their need. This was the catalyst for the miracles of the widow woman, the 4 lepers and the feeding of 5000 in the wilderness!
16. Go back to God. He can still send ravens to feed you. He can still ensure that your barrel of meal does not waste and your cruse of oil does not fail! He has put His word on the lips of His servants to declare abundance in the midst of famine!
Isaiah 33:6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation;
2 Chron 7:13-16 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
17. Finally, you must understand that whenever God allows this kind of occurrence, He is about to cause a wealth transfer from the ungodly to His children. Examples abound: Egypt and the slave children of Israel Syria and the city of Samaria. The Moabites and Judah under King Jehoshapath.
If you believe it, it will come to pass. If not, you will miss out on it!
God bless you richly!
OLU OLUGBAMILA

SUDAN AND THE ROMANCE OF MILITARIALISM

Sudanese Crisis: Is Peace Visible?
By Victor Damilare Erinfolami


The Dafur crisis which seems to be a Sudanese phenomenon is growing to be an issue of continental and world concern, just as all the peace accord reached and all the International efforts for peace have been rebuffed due to reasons that the actors in the crisis considered sacred to their interest.
Although, Sudan is one of the countries of the world that are divided along many lines of differences among which are religion, ethnic, tribal and economic activities. Sudan is divided along the line of religion into Muslims whose population accounted for over 70% of the population, Christians whose population is about 5 percent of the total population and the animist whose population accounted for 25 percent of the total population of Sudan. Along ethnic lines, Sudan is divided into people of African and Arab origin and these still consist of many other tribes of people. While the economic activities divides the Sudanese into nomadic and sedentary.
Sudan which is Africa's biggest country has since independence in 1956 been in constant war over natural resources, religious differences etc. With the most violent of the crisis happening between 1956 1972 and 1983 2005.
The South in 1955 mutinied against the North out of fear of domination since the British colonialist has left the North with a well orchestrated rule of Sudan. According to a report by International Crisis Group on conflict Prevention and Resolution (ICG), the South after their military mutiny formed the Anya-Nya guerilla movement. After which General Abboud seized power in 1958 and he instituted policy of Islamisation thereafter. In 1964 a popular uprising forced out General Abboud after which successive governments were formed by the Arab tribe until 1969 when a coup d'etat enthroned General Nimieri.
A communist coup was stage in 1971, although unsuccessful but it gave General Nimieri a sense of political isolation and this believed to have spurred him to broken peace with the enstranged leader of the southern Sudan Anya Nya granting the South
autonomy in March 1972. Niemieri also sought peace with other African country with severed relationship like Ethiopia and Uganda.
The discovery of oil in 1978 in the Southern city of Bentiu and governments insincerity with the peace agreement coupled with increasing Islamic shift led to the resumption of war and the eventual deployment of government troops to the oil rich Bentiu.
Southern troops again mutinied against government in early 1983 which lead to the abrogation of the Addis Abbaba peace agreement by June, dissolving South's constitutional rights guarantees and declaring Arabic as the official language and by September the Islamic sharing Law
has replaced the Sudanese law. The Southern Sudan grievances revolved around the Sudan people's liberation Army / Movement militia led by John Garang and this led to the popular uprising that ousted Nimieri in 1985 and the government of Sadiq Al-Mahdi was democratically elected in 1986.
Although moves were already under way by the government of Sadiq Al-Mahdi to broker peace with the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army(SPLA) and the government is due to pass a bill freezing Sharia Law in under 24 hours when in 1989 National Islamic Front (NIF) led by General Omar Al-Bashir staged a bloodless coup ousting Sadiq Al-Mahdi's government.
General Omar's NIF immediately after seizing power suspended all peace processes, revoked the Sudanese constitution, banned opposition parties, moved to Islamised the Judicial system and stepped-up the North and South war, declaring Jihad on the non-Muslim Southern government.
The fall of Mengistsu regime in Ethiopia weakened the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) coupled with internal split that lead to factionising and an eventual inter-ethic fighting in the South. Harbouring of Osama Bin Laden in Khartoum and other Islamic fundamentalist groups in early 1990's also led to International Isolation.
Kenyan led regional Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) made little progress in the negotiation between government and SPLA in the period of 1994 2001. July 2002 Machakos protocol granted self determination referendum (autonomy) to south after a six years period of struggle, while maintaining Sharia Law in the North. The mid 2003 struggle for land and power in the western region of Dafur intensified with the pro-government Militia, Arab Janjaweed undertaking a policy of ethnic cleansing towards the civilian population of the African Tribes, with reinforced attacks by the government forces the number of people killed was over 200, 000 Darfurians and over.
2 million were displaced. Although the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS) in 2004 did their best at quelling the killings and war but peace still eluded the country.
The Naivasha accords formally ended the North and South war by the Signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005, incorporating SPLA/M into Government of National Unity (GNU) and schedule for 2009 national election were created but still the implementation was stilted. This was due to the lack of political will on the side of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the death of the (SPLA/M) leader, Dr. John Garang in July 2005, which incapacitated the group from being a good opposition to NCP's breach of agreement.
After the new Government led by “same old” Al-bashir was sworn in by October 2006, a new constitution was drafted and the Government of National Unity (GNU) with SPLA reigned peacefully until the July 2007 deadline for government troops withdrawal from the South passed which led to the walk-out of SPLA/M from the GNU in October 2007 protesting the delays, only to return by December 2007.
After the return of the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) they held cabinet and foreign Minister positions but the tension between the Janjawed Arab militia and the SPLM in the oil rich Abyei region on North-South border intensified and lead to the most serious breaches of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This also lead to the displacement of over 10, 000 people who fled for fear that it may escalate to a full- scale civil war.
This lead to the NCP and SPLM signing a Roadmap Agreement by June 2008, to defuse the conflict which has left many civilians dead, Non-Governmental Organization workers and soldiers of the African Union Mission to Sudan(AMIS). Both NCP and SPLM agreeing to submit the troubled Abyei border dispute to Hague based permanent Court for Arbitration.
A Militia group called Justice and Equity Movement's attempted ground on Khartoum between May 10 11, 2008 prompted the government to launch a major retaliatory aerial and ground attacks in West and North Dafur which led to the arrest of 300 suspected JEM members in the capital.
The Sudan problem became more and more complicated just as the war goes beyond the border of the country, leading affront against Chad and destabilizing the African Democratic Republic. Refusal of Khatoum to welcome UN Peace Keepers while performing the beleaguered AU troops also did not help the peace matters and this has led to the death of many in the country especially the health volunteer workers and other Foreign AID workers.
Although many reasons has been ascribed to the 2007 disagreement between President Omar Al-Bashir and the Southern leader Salvia Kiir, who is the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). In an article dated 19th October, 2007 from the Guardian Newspaper website, the SPLM accuses the NCP of monopolizing power by behaving like the only governing party and lacking transparency in the distribution of Sudan's supposed by shared oil wealth while arresting various southern activities living in the north. While the Bashir's National Congress party has in turn blamed SPLM for the delays in the implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement, which NCP claimed ended the 21 years of war between the Moslem north and mainly Christian and animist south that killed at least two million people and displaced millions more.
Though, politically Sudan has been denied many opportunities, this leaves one wondering why the Actors in the Crisis are still turning deaf hears on the peace agreements. One of the disadvantaged beneficiary in this crisis is President Omar Al-Bashir whose dream of becoming African Union's leader was dashed twice among other international sanctions against Sudan under his rule.
Al-Bashir was accused by African leaders of not doing much to end the crisis in his country. Backing the AU leadership in 2007 was the Amnesty International who has earlier warned that Al-Bashir's becoming the chairman of the organization will damage the credibility of the Union. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who rallied the African leaders in 2007 expressed the importance of getting all the rebel groups to sign the peace agreement. An advice which if had been taken seriously would have prevented militia groups like JEM from raising another insurgency that led to the bloodshed early in 2008.
The recent application for a warrant of arrest for the President of Sudan, Al-Bashir, at the International Criminal Court by ICC prosecutor Louis Moreno- Ocampo has generated heat from around the world. Ojigho Osai of African Court Project an NGO in Lagos, Nigeria, expresses fear that the application if granted may not necessarily help the peace process in Sudan ,just as he stated that the disagreements over the application for the arrest warrant for president Al-Bashir may not help in the International peace support actions needed if the civilians in the country are to be protected.

Ojigho in his article published in Thisday Lawyer on the 30th September,2008,opined that the peace process in Dafur could be better handled if all the international actors uniformly focus on protecting and securing the rights of the people of Dafur who are desperately in search of respite from their war ravaged country. Even as many organizations have condemned the Moreno-Ocampo's ICC application, it has helped the regime of Omar Al-Bashir to focus on a true resolution of the crisis in Sudan.
An article by International Crisis Group said that the ICC prosecutor's application has increased pressure on the regime in Sudan to implement genuine measures to resolve the Darfur Crisis but it also poses major risk for Sudan's fragile peace. Declaiming that the ruling NCP was clearly shaken by the development while trying to manage political and legal implications of the application, seeking international support especially from African Union and Arab league states both organizations condemned the Moreno-Ocampo's application.
International Crisis Group (ICG) said that since the May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement has failed because of too limited scope and signatories who had gone behind hurt the peace process, advising that the new joint AU/UN mediator, former foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Djibrill Bassole appointed in 2008 should use this opportunity to reformulate the process, broadening participation and addressing all the conflict's root causes like the land tenure, grazing rights and use and the unresolved role of the local government, all of which were not resolved by the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).
ICG also suggested that the UN/AU hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) once fully operational should make it priority to protect civilians and responding to ceasefire violations. Advising the UN security council to apply punitive measures to any party obstructing negotiations, the work of the International Criminal Courts (ICC), or violating arms embargo or International Humanitarian Law, among other which have been fulfilled by the council.
International Crisis Group (ICG) also saic that for peace to be achievable in Sudan, the U.S, China and other member of the security council of the United Nation and member states of the AU and UN should now apply effective pressure on all sides, particularly on the NCP to abandon attempts to achieve a military victory; Support the AU/UN mediation as the sole International forum for pursuing a peaceful Darfur settlement; Develop consensus for a political strategy, including the application of punitive measures against those responsible.
Despite ICG'S suggestions and Nigeria's spending of Billions of naira on equipping its contingents in the African Mission in Dafur, the regime of Omar Al-Bashir has been obstinate to the peace deals. Abhorring the likes of Ahmed Harun, a Government Minister and Janjaweed Commander, Ali Kushayb, both of whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has since 27th April 2007 issued warrants for their arrest for committing war crimes against humanity in Dafur.

THE GOOD,BAD AND THE ARGENTINA EXPERIENCES

THE GOOD, BAD AND THE ARGENTINA EXPERIENCES
By Victor Damilare Erinfolami


The International Bar Association Conference of 2008 held in Buenos Aires, Argentina has come and gone but left many delegates with unforgettable experiences, just as all manners of robbery and theft were used as hospitality tool for the attendees.
The International Bar Association was established in 1947 with over 30, 000 members and 195 Bar Association Memberships and Law Societies spanning all the continents of the world. IBA organizes a yearly conference that all lawyers and law practitioners love to attend due to the benefit accruing to them by participation. Ranging from different seminars, paper presentations, brainstorming sessions and professional networking among other benefits.
According to statistics released by Thisday Lawyer of 28th October 2008, among 4, 400 delegates at the 2008 conference, Nigeria was one of the top three that has the highest number of delegates ranking among countries like United States of America and Argentina. Total members of Nigerian delegates registered for the event was put at 550. The total delegates of 4, 400 persons from 117 countries has over 80 percent as males with 20 percent females and this number put the attendance higher by 10 percent compared to the Singapore IBA Conference of 2007.
The IBA general conference which kicks off at about 6pm on Sunday 12th of October, 2008 with a keynote address by eminent economist, Hernand De Soto, was suppose to be one of the best ever with many Nigerian lawyers bagging Awards and getting appointed into highly placed positions in the International Bar Association but the reverse became the case just as robberies and theft was reported by many innocent minded delegates.
While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the Argentine armed robbers, Mr. Jonathan Ikiebe recounted how he and a colleague got to Argentina after the 12 hours trip from Nigeria, full of life and enthusiasm, only to get into the reality of tantalizing Argentines hospitality.
Mr. Ikiebe who is a Nigerian Lawyer narrated that he got to Argentina for the IBA Conference two days earlier by 10th October at exactly 8:30pm Argentines time, with instructions to delegates to get information from the information boot only where he and his friend got direction to the hill-fated Airport Shuttle in which they were robbed in transit by two daredevil armed robbers.
Mr. Ikiebe said the robbery session began with two men from the rear seats pulling down the bus curtains, this which rose Passengers apprehension until there was an announcement in Spanish to the driver first and later to the passengers, which definitely seem to mean “submit your belongings now or else blah blah blah”. This saw everyone giving their jewelry, money, wallets, shoes and other valuables to the robbers as they approach the passenger seat by seat to harvest where they have not sowed.
The Nigerian lawyer said he only manage to cleverly hide some money from the robbers who are shooting sporadically and even hit an obstinate passenger with the butt of their gun. He recounts that the robbers did a second round raiding on all passengers before they eventually announce to the non-challant bus driver in Spanish to stop and made away with their loot in a waiting van after about 15 minutes of unchallenged robbery.
Mr. Ikiebe lamented that the Argentine Security Agents were not much of help, ”when we got to the Police Station unlike in Nigeria where if such thing happens, one will expect that the Police will be hard on the driver, firstly, the Police will ask “how did those guys manage to board your vehicle with guns on them without you detecting? Where did they get the tickets to board the bus? Did they enter the airport with guns without being detected? This were questions that I would have expected them to ask the driver at the Police Station but that was not the case, he was just there with us until 3:00am when we are taken to the hotel. I don’t know what transpired after, apparently the driver was a free man” he lamented.
Narrating another incident, Mr. Jonathan Ikiebe said one Mr. Banabas from Uganda was also a victim of the robberies. He said, according to Banabas, he was only robbed of his wrist watch and was wounded in the process of the robbery.
Another Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa was also said to have been robbed opposite Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires. Story has it that an unknown man asked him of what time it is and in the process of adjusting to check what time it is, two other men came and took off his wrist watch by force and ran out to a waiting bike that took them away.
Also disclosed was the case of theft in one five star hotel, where it was reported by an undisclosed delegate that her bag was cut into, unknowingly by probably an hotel staff and valuables were removed.
A female Justice in the NBA Lagos branch was also touched by the crafty miscreants who took her purse away. Story has it that while she was site seeing in a shopping mall a certain person just pour on her a substance that stains her clothe and ran away and another came trying to help her clean-up. Unaware that her purse was stolen in that process until she wanted to buy a drink and could not find her purse.
Mr. Jonathan Ikiebe, compared the crime rate in Nigeria and Argentina, saying that the Nigeria security situation is much better than that of Argentina. Citting examples of the robbery cases, that there is no way an armed robber can rob successfully in a restaurant or in a shopping mall without being cut in the act by Nigeria Security Agents. He eulogises the average Nigerians saying that they prefer to work for their income rather than rob others. Also submitted that in Nigeria there is only few areas that are identified as black spots and that those are not the high brow areas like Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina.
The efforts of the NBA President Mr. Oluwarotimi Akenedolu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Argentina, Mr. Emperor Kanu, , Editor of Thisday Lawyer,Mrs. Funke Aboyade and Mr. and Mrs. Oluyede of the TRLPLAW ,was recounted by the victim saying that it really brought succour to them. He spoke specifically of the largesse from Mr. and Mrs. Oluyede, the sympathy and help offered by the Nigerian Embassy in Argentina at helping to get a new traveling documents to replace the one stolen in the robbery attack.
Comparing the 2008 Argentina’s Conference with that of 2007 in Singapore, Mr. Ikiebe said the Buenos Aries Conference was of quality, and that their was standard organization and the participation was high but he still prefers that of Singapore because the atmosphere and reception was not as hostile as that of Buenos Aires.
He spoke further that though their was high level of insecurity but the conference really benefits him in the area of professional liason with colleagues in the same area of practice from other part of the world, explaining that, for instance anyone specializing on company law will benefit from other participants practicing same in other country thus given the individual participant a wider perspective of their area of specialty and attending sessions on area of specialization also benefits delegates. Said “it was a forum to network”.