Discover Nigeria: Interesting Facts About Christopher Alexander Sapara-Williams, Nigeria’s First Lawyer

There is this thing about any kind of history: It cannot be wished away. The past has happened. It can either be ignored like it never happened or humbly acknowledged. Either way, history is the beginning of a thing and can serve as a stepping stone to greater heights. Christopher Alexander Sapara-Williams is a part of our history in Nigeria. Generally, he is known as the first Nigerian lawyer and is greatly admired for his contribution to the political history of Nigeria. Other interesting facts about Sapara-Williams are:

1. The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi did not adorn his walls with the words of a remarkable foreign lawyer. Christopher Alexander Sapara-Williams’ words: “The legal practitioner lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country” were the words the late renowned lawyer adorned his walls with. Sapara-Williams must have been a great influence in the life of the late Fawehinmi because he lived his life as the Nigerian Centenary did. There are heroes among us. Charity begins at home.
2. Sapara-Williams had his roots from Ijeshaland. Always proud of where he came from, he would fondly call it, “Ijesha wa”, meaning “Our Ijesha”. He did not love his roots only in words, he acted accordingly too by being instrumental in Nigeria’s decolonization. The part he played that wows me every time I read it was his condemnation of Seditious Offences Ordinances of 1909 and his collaboration with Herbert Macaulay to start the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society. Sapara-Williams had a voice and he made sure his voice was heard.
3. He was Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1900 to 1915. For him, the law is to be used as a force for positive social change and during his lifetime, he made this the basis of achievements and legacy to which we now remember him by. And the moral here is this: After you are long gone, make sure you make the history books – for good.