Jonathan Gunu Taidi, lawyer, activist and humanitarian, was born on 22nd June, 1969 at Kakpi, Baro District of Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria. He began formal education at Duma Primary School in Lapai LGA before proceeding to the famous Government College Bida.
In 1985, having obtained his WASC, he enrolled at the College of Administrative and Business Studies Bida, graduating with a Diploma in Secretarial Studies in 1987. He began work that year with the Federal University of Technology, Minna, until 1992 when he was admitted to study law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He graduated in 1999 and thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar on 23rd January, 2001.
His flare for humanitarian service saw him gravitate towards challenging pro bono cases mostly for Awaiting Trial inmates under the Social Security for Better Future Initiative, a non-governmental organisation which facilitated his attending the 15th Commonwealth Lawyers Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in September, 2007 and upon return ventured into full time private legal practice in Minna, Niger State.
In furtherance of his enthusiasm for serving the Bar, he was elected Vice Chairman of the NBA, Minna Branch, in May, 2010. His passion for using the law to help the downtrodden led to the resuscitation of the Pro bono scheme of the branch which resulted in the unprecedented discharge of over two hundred awaiting trial inmates, and convicts who before then couldn’t pay off their option of fine.
Always eager to improve professionally, and understanding the need for capacity building, J. G. Taidi joined a Section of the International Law of the American Bar Association in 2009 and served as Vice Chairman of the Africa Committee between 2009 – 2010. He was elected the Chairman of NBA Minna in May, 2012. During his term as Chairman, the Branch pursued the implementation of Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Although full implementation was not achieved, the Judiciary witnessed the unprecedented release of funds which were utilised in the areas of infrastructure upgrade, provision of functional library and improving the welfare of Judicial Officers, culminating in enhanced service delivery. Furthermore, the then Acting President of the Court of Appeal approved the establishment of a Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal in Minna which regrettably has still not taken off.
J.G. Taidi was appointed a Notary Public of Nigeria in 2014
As a Bar Man with great respect for international best practices, J. G. Taidi joined the International Bar Association (IBA) and participated actively in the various conferences he attended. In addition, he is a foremost agitator for Nigerian content in the activities of the IBA to justify the huge conference registration fees paid by Nigerian conferees.
As an active Member of the Cross Border Transactions Committee of the American Bar Association, J. G. Taidi received invitation from the Asia Pacific Bar Association (APBA) and was inducted as an Associate Member at the APBA Conference in Hong Kong in May 2015.
G. Taidi has attended all the conferences of the Nigerian Bar Association since 2001 and taken active role as a member of the Section of Legal Practice. He has been in the National Executive Committee of the NBA from 2008 till date. He was the Secretary of the North Central Panel of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) in 2014 – 2016 and Prosecutor LPDC 2017 till date.
G. Taidi, Esq. is a consummate Bar Man, a fearless patriot and believes a 21st Century compliant Nigerian Bar Association is achievable.
He loves music, reading and travelling.
He is married to Susan and blessed with Mabel, Christabel and Annabel.
