GOODWILL MESSAGE
By Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson
Special Guest at the Law and Inclusive Development Summit 2025
It is with immense honor and profound gratitude that I extend my warmest goodwill to the organizers, participants, and distinguished guests gathered here for the Law and Inclusive Development Summit 2025, hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association, Garki Branch (Liberty Bar), in collaboration with Citizens Initiatives for Rights and Empowerment.
This year’s theme, “Setting the Pace”, could not have come at a more timely moment in our national discourse. As we grapple with the challenges of inequality, governance, and sustainable progress, the legal profession must rise to its sacred duty—not just as defenders of justice—but as catalysts of inclusive development.
The Summit’s focus reflects a deliberate attempt to interrogate the intersection between law, policy, and the broader imperative of leaving no one behind.
Inclusive development demands that we reframe legal frameworks to accommodate marginalized voices, promote equity in resource allocation, and foster participatory governance.
From the village assembly to the corridors of national power, every citizen must have access to justice, economic opportunity, and dignity. The law must serve as a bridge, not a barrier, to these aspirations.
To the young lawyers and changemakers in this room: your passion, intellect, and courage are the seeds from which transformative leadership grows. Let this summit serve as a clarion call to “set the pace” in your respective spheres—with integrity, vision, and a heart for service.
I commend the leadership of the YLF Garki Branch and our partners at CIRE for creating this platform of engagement. May the outcomes of today’s deliberations inspire action, influence policy, and ignite a new wave of socially responsive legal practice.
Once again, I thank you for the privilege of being part of this forward-thinking initiative. Together, let us set the pace for a more inclusive and just Nigeria.
Signed:
Prof. Foluke Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson
Special Guest,
Law and Inclusive Development Summit 2025
Read More:
