{{short description|Nigerian lawyer}} {{Infobox Officeholder | name = Paul Usoro | term_start3 = | death_place = | death_date = | birth_place = Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1958|09|7}} | successor3 = | predecessor3 = Mahmoud Abubakar Balarabe | term_end3 = | office3 = | image = | term_end2 = | term_start2 = | office2 = | term_end1 = July 2020 | term_start1 = August 2018 | office1 = President of the Nigerian Bar Association | caption = | image_size = | party = Non-partisian }}
Chief '''Paul Usoro''', {{Audio|Ig-Paul Usoro.ogg|listen|help=no}} SAN, (born September 7, 1958) is a Nigerian litigator, communication law expert and president of the Nigerian Bar Association.
== Early life == Usoro was born on September 7, 1958, at Ukana Ikot Ntuen town in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State, south-south Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawyard.ng/biography-meet-the-peoples-lawyer-paul-usoro/|title=Biography : Meet The People's Lawyer Paul Usoro {{!}} Lawyard|date=2018-05-23|website=Lawyard|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> He obtained a bachelor's degree in law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state in 1981 and called to the bar in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legalnaija.com/2018/02/10-facts-about-paul-usoro-san.html|title=10 Facts about Paul Usoro SAN|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> He attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legalnaija.com/2018/02/10-facts-about-paul-usoro-san.html|title=10 Facts about Paul Usoro SAN|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
== Career == He began his law career in 1983, when he joined Sani Mohammed Kuso & Co, Kaduna.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nba-2018-presidential-election-the-potential-contestants.html|title=NBA 2018 Presidential Election: The potential contestants|last1=Bamgboye|first1=Adelanwa|last2=Lagos|date=2018-02-06|newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> In 1985, he founded his own legal outfit called Paul Usoro and Co in Kaduna and in 1992<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.accessbankplc.com/pages/About-Us/Board-and-Management-Team/Mr-Paul-Usoro,-SAN.aspx|title=About us|last=Admin|date=|website=Access NG|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> the headquarters was established in Lagos with the Kaduna office still operational until 2003.
Usoro sits on the board of directors of Access Bank Plc., and chairs the board's Remuneration Committee and Governance & Nomination Committee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/paul-usoro-eminent-lawyer-striding-across-boardrooms/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Paul Usoro: The Eminent Lawyer Striding Across Boardrooms|date=2018-05-11|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> He is a director of PZ Cussons Plc, and chairs the People & Governance Committee of the PZ Cussons Plc Board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/business-leaders/Paul-Usoro-0C8VJT-E/biography/|title=Paul Usoro - Biography|last=MarketScreener|website=www.marketscreener.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> He is a council member of the International Bar Association.
As an expert in the communication industry, he drafted the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, that regulates the Nigeria Communications industry and also drafted the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Process etc.) Regulations, 2005 as well as the Mobile Number Portability Regulations 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/whos-after-paul-usoro-2/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Who's After Paul Usoro?|date=2019-04-20|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawyard.ng/how-i-became-nigerias-foremost-communication-lawyer-paul-usoro-san/|title=How I Became Nigeria's Foremost Communication Lawyer – Paul Usoro SAN {{!}}|last=Staff|first=Lawyard|date=2017-11-15|website=Lawyard|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
He was elected as the 29th Nigerian Bar Association president in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/280903-paul-usoro-emerges-new-nba-president.html|title=Paul Usoro emerges new NBA President|date=2018-08-21|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-23|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref>
== Personal life == He is married to Mrs Mfon Usoro who is the pioneer Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) from August 2006 to May 2007 and Non executive director to First City monument Bank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcmb.com/mrs-mfon-usoro-non-executive-director-independent|title=Mrs. Mfon Usoro {{!}} FCMB|website=www.fcmb.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> They have two children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paulusoro.com/people_details?name=%27Paul%20Usoro,%20SAN%27&id=35|title=Paul Usoro & Co {{!}} People|website=www.paulusoro.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legalnaija.com/2018/11/style-focus-mrs-mfon-usoro.html|title=Style Focus: Mrs. Mfon Usoro|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>
== See also ==
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usoro, Paul}} Category:1958 births Category:People from Akwa Ibom State Category:Living people Category:Nigerian jurists Category:Obafemi Awolowo University alumni
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