The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) kicked off its 2024 Annual General Conference on Friday with the opening of registration for delegates to the conference and a thanksgiving Jumat Service at the Central Mosque on Lagos Island.

Today, there was a health walk at 7am and a pre-conference NEC meeting scheduled for the Nigeria Law School, after which delegates will attend a welcome cocktail party organized by the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Over 16,000 legal practitioners are expected at the conference which will last till Aug 28.

With the theme, Pressing Forward; A National Posture For Rebuilding Nigeria, sessions of the conference will hold at the Eko hotel & Suites as well as the Tafawa Balewa Square, both on Lagos Island.

The Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee, Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya described the 2024 NBA-AGC as “A Conference Like No Other!’*

“What this means is that, no detail is too small; no stone is left unturned to ensure that we bring this slogan to life. So, every aspect of the Conference will be a highlight. From the historical significance of the venue and its surroundings, to the sporting and other social activities, to the level of detail that has gone into curating the sessions, choosing the resource persons and just simply ensuring that attention is paid to everything that will result in a memorable Conference experience for both physical and virtual delegates. Our promise is that, there will be something for everyone”.

“That being said, the Keynote Address will be delivered by none other than Dr Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, herself, a woman of many firsts; the significance of which was not lost on us in narrowing down our choice of Keynote Speaker to her…,” said Mrs Okusanya.

This opening ceremony, at which Mrs Okonjo-Iweala will be speaking, will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at 4:00pm at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

It will be preceded by a special thanksgiving church service scheduled for 9am, at the historic Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, where attendees will have the opportunity to gather in a peaceful setting to offer prayers for the success of the event, reflect on the year’s accomplishments, and celebrate the achievements of the legal community.

Also expected at the opening ceremony is the former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, who will be speaking broadly on the topic, “Future of Africa in The Midst of Rising Security, Economic and Political Challenges” with interventions from the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, CON , the Chairman of Aliko Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON and the Session Chair, Former, Governor, Ekiti State, HE Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, CON.

The host governor, Babajide SanwoOlu-Olu and the Minister of Justice & Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) are also expected to give goodwill messages at the event.

Other sessions of interest at the weeklong conference include “The Glass Ceiling is Shattered”, which will feature all the Eleven female Bank MDs in Nigeria on the same stage, sharing their leadership journey and prescriptions for pressing forward.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and The Practice of Law, What It Takes to Be a Lawyer, Intersection of Rule of Law and Human Rights in Nigeria: Unlocking Opportunities for a Democratic Future, will also be discussed.

Issues of Globalisation of Legal Services will be discussed by Prof Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN of Olaniwun Ajaji LP, Richard Atkinson, Vice President, Law Society of England and Wales, Mark Mordi, SAN – Partner, ALN Nigeria, Aluko & Oyebode, Dr. Sanford Mba – Partner, Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor & Segun (Dentons ACAS-Law) and the former attorney-General of Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN.

The session will be coordinated by Ronke Adeyemi and moderated by Channels TV’s judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele. (Channels TV)

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