The beauty of association is when each person is progressing and making the team proud. In the heat of intense instituted racism discomfort spreading around the globe, our very own Kelechi Madu was appointed Justice Minister and Solicitor General in Canada.
Kelechi had his early life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. He graduated with a law degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2001 after which he moved with his wife for her postgraduate studies at the University of Alberta, Canada.
With this background history, Kelechi is a Lawyer, born and bred in Nigeria. Though away from the country but he is still found practicing both in Nigeria and Canada. He also runs a small law firm there in Canada.
Kelechi’s interests and contributions include employment standards investigations, strategic and operational public policy, and governmental issues management to name a few. He gives back to society by volunteering his legal skills with the Law Society of Alberta Lawyer Referral Program and the Edmonton Community Legal Centre. He has spent his professional career working for the people through his work with Legal Aid Alberta, Labour, Immigration, and Human Rights Tribunals, and in the courts.
The Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney speaking at the commemoration said, they are at a time when Albertans have grown more sensitive to racial prejudice, he considered the move important to bring the needed perspective and change in their justice system.
The Premier also remarked that Kelechi will be the first Black Canadian to occupy either provincial or federal justice positions of the justice minister, attorney general, or solicitor general. However, Kelechi was first elected as a minister in Alberta in the 2019 general election and was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the province, representing the district of Edmonton-South West.
Dunia Nur, President of the Edmonton-based African Canadian Civic Engagement Council, a council that encourages and reinforces opportunities for members of the African, Caribbean, and Black communities across Canada, also stated that Kelechi had become a role model for the community. Nur believes that it is not only his background as a lawyer that makes him suitable for the role but his active participation as a member of the African community.
Reacting to the honor conferred on him, Kelechi expressed his commitment to ensuring the justice system represents all Albertans in a way that is fair and accountable. In his words, “My fundamental belief that every soul deserves equal access to justice has always informed my legal work, and that will never change.”
We hope that nothing changes but for good. We celebrate Kelechi Madu!