Funmi Roberts, a legal practitioner and the principal partner of Funmi Roberts and Co, who holds a Bachelors Degree in Law and a Masters in Law from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in this interview by TAYO GESINDE, speaks about her career, why she specialised in Commercial Law and Arbitration and the price she paid to get to where she is today.
Background and journey to legal practice.
Funmi Roberts, born 60 years ago, attended Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Our Ladies of Apostle also in Ibadan for her secondary education, then went to the Polytechnic of Ibadan for her A-levels and later enrolled at the University of Ife for her degree, where she graduated one of the tops in her class in 1981, then went to Law School, where she also graduated top of the class. She worked in the Ministry of Justice for three months, but she had to leave, as according to her “in the three months I spent there, I looked at only one file and that was not challenging enough for me. I left and decided to join the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan to become a professor. Along the line, I discovered that was not what I wanted to do; I wanted to practice law I was a very good teacher and I loved teaching, but with the indiscipline that had seeped into the university system even at that time, I knew I won’t be able to cope psychologically. So I left and worked in a law firm for three years then started Funmi Roberts and Co.”
What informed your choice of career?
My mother actually wanted me to do medicine. So, when I did my A Levels, I studied science subjects but I failed because my heart wasn’t in it, I loved reading and writing. In secondary school, my literature teacher, a British Caucasian lady, was a fantastic teacher, who got me interested in reading. When I failed, I then told my mum that I wanted to read law. The first person who suggested law to me was my late aunt, Justice Atinuke Ige. She was passing by our house one day and said “Funmi, you are always with a book, why don’t you go and read law?” She told me what it takes to be a lawyer and I said this is exactly what I want. I told my mum I won’t bother to go back to school but will just buy the syllabus for Arts students and read on my own. And that was what I did for the next one year. I was determined to do it on my own and I did. After that, I got admission into the university to study law.
Today, Funmi Roberts and Co is one of the foremost female owned legal firms in Nigeria. How did you achieve this feat?
I was called to the bar 36 years ago and if you are on a journey for 36 years and you have not made any positive movement upward, then that means you are not on the right path. I wouldn’t say that the journey was smooth, but I am someone who had always prioritised and a focused person. I got married immediately after Law School and had my first child during youths service programme. I have four sons; my husband travelled out of the country and I was left alone to raise my boys. I had to make a decision. At the time, I was going to court and it took a whole out of me because I was travelling from one place to another. Then, I had to ask myself that if I were to define what success means when I am in my sixties, what would it be? Would it be that I was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) or that I am a wife and I have kept my home? Or would it be that I raised my children successfully?
It dawned on me that the most important thing to me is to raise my children successfully. I realised it would be difficult to move at the pace I was going, raise my children, know them, take ownership of how they grew up and instil discipline in them. So, I left the law firm I was working with after three years without pay because I wanted to learn the practice of law which was different from the teaching of law. I wanted to work in a law firm and grow the law firm in return for partnership, but the law firms I approached were not ready for that. So, I decided to set up my law firm. I started in one room divided into two; my secretary was in one half while I was in the other. When the next door became vacant, I occupied that too. That was where I was; I didn’t look for big clients; I didn’t want too many clients. I just wanted enough to keep me busy in the practice of law and was doing more of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) work so that I could control my time because I needed to raise my sons. I pitched into corporate commercial law which allowed me to keep a small client base, be relevant and build my network, while my children were growing. I kept it small till my last child was in SS2 when I began to grow the law firm. By that time, I had many clients in Ibadan and Lagos. I also did a lot of courses, especially online. It was from two rooms that we moved to this four-storey building.
Did being in Ibadan affect your career growth in anyway?
Sometimes we let geography define us. When I took the decision that I was going to go into corporate commercial law, I knew the best briefs will not come from Ibadan; they will come from Lagos. I was ready to travel to Lagos to get jobs. I knew it was going to be challenging, but I knew I could do it because I had the network, the resources and because I was not under a lot of pressure to make money. My husband was taking care of us so, whatever I made was just to support him. More importantly, I was not the type to look at what others were achieving because everyone has their seasons. For many years, I couldn’t afford to buy ready-made clothes or designer handbags; we were using our money to train our children and build a house. Wahabi, the tailor, is still alive; he was the one sewing clothes for me and some of my friends. Today, all that is history, I can afford to carry any bag I want now. Then, it was all about the family
Was that part of the prices you paid to be where we are today?
It was not a big a price to pay when you see the success of it. If you tell me today to define what success is, I will say my sons because I believe I have raised four fantastic sons. The feedback I get from people about my sons, I get on my knees on a daily basis and just thank God. It was worth every penny of it. Being a SAN would have been the icing on the cake, but I couldn’t sacrifice the time it would take. The only thing is that in the field I have chosen, I have excelled in it.
What is the secret of success?
There is no secret anywhere. Whatever you want to do, have clarity of mind, be focused and be determined. Your spouse is a critical success factor for anybody, especially a woman. If a man or woman lives in a hostile environment, it will affect his or her work. If your husband supports you, there is nothing anybody can do to stop you, except you want to stop yourself. It is important to carry your husband along and make him understand what you want to do. My husband has been so supportive.
What is the most defining moment of your career?
For me, I don’t put labels on anything. So many things have happened in my life that I can’t say that this is what changed it for me because everything that had happened in my life I always believe is for a particular purpose. Anytime I do something, I analyse it, whether it is successful or not, so I can improve on it.
How were you able to combine the home front with your career?
It is called off life balance. I have been trying to find the balance for thirty something years, but I have not found it. I don’t believe we need to strike a balance; it is impossible. The way I look at that concept is this: What do I need to deal with today? Let me deal with it successfully. If it is my children’s issue I have to deal with, let me deal with it successfully. If it is work, let me deal with it successfully. Let me make the right choices on a daily basis. Also, I had a lot of support from my in-laws and my mum. It is going to be difficult for a woman who doesn’t have that support so she needs to set her priorities. For me, I believe it is a matter of setting your priorities and realities right; making the right decision in any circumstance.
What advice do you have for young girls?
It is a big mistake for any woman to say that because she wants to raise her children, she is going to leave her job. I say this because the children will leave the home and forge their own lives and when you are in your fifties, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? I will advice a young married woman to remain in her profession, but in a manner that you will have time for your family. By the time your last child gets to a certain level you will have more time to build your career. For me, I believe young people should focus on their future, rather than the present.
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