Wale Adekola is a lawyer, banker, mortgage/real estate practitioner and management consultant.
Adekola is also a notary public and the presiding partner in the law firm of De-Cathedral & Associates (DCA). He is currently the Board Chair of Trustees of The Society Society for Notaries Public in Nigeria.
In this interview, the respected legal practitioner speaks on the challenges facing notaries public in Nigeria and efforts to standardise the practice.
Q: Sir, can you explain to us what a Notary Public is about ?
A: Thank you for the question. A Notary public is someone who authenticates legal notes and documents. For those who might not know, a notary public is a professional in that particular field, because he is the person authorised to perform such legal formalities. You may ask what these are. As an instance, a notary public is someone who draws up and can certify contracts and deeds. It is a sensitive work because it is a service of trust. To underscore their importance, a notary public is appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria as an officer of the Supreme Court to perform that service of trust.
They help to provide certifications, like attestations, oaths and other services. Like I said, they are professionals in that field, just the same way we have doctors, dentists and so on in the practice of medicine.
Q: You spoke about document certifications and drawing up contracts and deeds. Are those not the work of lawyers?
A: Those services are professionally done by notaries public. To broaden our understanding of what notaries public is, I will recommend a book titled ‘The Nigerian Notary Public: Prescribed Practices and Procedures’ written by Muyiwa Ayojimi. The book will enlighten those uninformed about the role of a notary public and, equally, help those who might want to take to practising notary public in Nigeria
Q: Does one need to be a member of the Society for Notaries Public Nigeria to practice it and why is it just being launched?
A: Absolutely. The Society for Notaries Public serves as the umbrella body for willing notaries public professionals in Nigeria. It is a platform that was established to professionalise notaries public, set and enforce globally acceptable standards of practice. We thought about eliminating quackery and ensuring that only professionals operate within the legal space. Why is society just being launched, you asked, and my answer is that it is better late than never.
Q: What are the goals for setting up TSNP?
A: The goals are simple: to provide continuous education and advance notarial advocacy. As I said earlier, it is also to promote the highest ethical standards. This is in line with our motto ‘Notum Verum’, meaning “We Certify the Truth.” Importantly, too, our goal is to make a difference in the gamut of legal services. And, in doing so, we are partnering with a technology platform, ToNote, to digitize notaries practices and provide authentication features. Also, we have a register containing members’ names. We will continue to populate the register, which will help in verifying notaries public. The register will sync with the Supreme Court of Nigeria database.
We, also, intend to offer training programmes and build a knowledge sharing community that equally serves as a support base for members.
Q: How does TSNP align with current trends or challenges in your field?
A: As you know, innovation is key to growth. And that is why we focusing on
digitalizing the notaries public. We are also looking at sustainability and ethical practices. We are also collaborating with some international notaries for purpose of sharing knowledge and best practices in the field.
Q: What types of activities or programs will the society offer to its members?
A: These activities include Onboarding on our Online Notary Platform with ToNote Technologies. That will enable a notary to endorse/authenticate documents virtually. Also, we are focusing on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, networking, advocacy and representation, publications, and providing professional support. We also plan to host annual conferences and publish research and best practice guides.
Q: Tell us about the launch of TSNP?
A: Yes, we will formally launch the Notaries Society in Nigeria on 20th of June, 2024. Mind you, the practice has been going on in Nigeria for many years. We are going to inaugurate our Council and induct new members. We will showcase best practices processes and also have fireside chats relating to the profession.
We have confirmed attendance of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who are the regulators of notary practice in Nigeria. Also, we are expecting leading industry legal advisers, foreign and interior ministries, members of diplomatic corps and government agencies at the event.
Q: Can you tell us more about the training or educational opportunities that would be provided by the society?
A: Our training opportunities will include both in-person workshops and online courses covering various topics relevant to our field. These are designed to keep our members up-to-date with the latest knowledge and skills necessary for their professional growth.
