Nyanza - The new Board of Directors of the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) affirmed its commitment to achieving its mission to become a centre of excellence in the training of legal professionals.

At a hand-over ceremony on Tuesday, Dr Alphonse Ngagi, the incoming board chairperson, stressed the need to maintain good trainers to churn out well grounded graduates.

"A lot has been done but we cannot sit and relax. The task to handle is still big and needs our effort. We will always endeavour to lift the quality of education that this institute offers at the highest possible level,” Dr Ngagi said.

"We will keep in touch with all legal institutions and other stakeholders in order to get proficient trainers we want. We will also see if there is any module which needs to be updated for us to pass out brighter legal practitioners.”

According to Ngagi, the new board has also been tasked with developing additional infrastructure that should enable the institute to extend its services to reach out to more beneficiaries in need of its training packages.

The 15-member board was appointed by a cabinet meeting held on May 11, 2011.

Speaking at the event, the outgoing chairperson, Johnston Busingye, noted that his tenure at the institute was a "privilege”.

"It was a great privilege to have served on this board bearing the fact it was a pioneer board after the creation of the institute. It was indeed humbling to see ILPD being born, and being part of its pioneer directorial team,” said Busingye, who served at the institute since 2003 when it was still a training centre.

"We encountered numerous challenges. We resolved those we could and, naturally, some may have stuck around until our term ended.”

He warned that the new board will have to face challenges but that through hard work and teamwork, they will overcome them.

"It is my wish and sincere prayer that the successor board accomplishes not only what we left unaccomplished but multiply achievement tenfold for the good of our country. I have every confidence that they will drive the ILPD agenda even faster,” he noted pledging his support to the new team.

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