The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) has officially commenced preparations for its 2026 Annual Conference, scheduled to hold in Lagos from April 7th – 10th, 2026. Already billed as a landmark gathering in the Nigerian legal calendar, the conference will feature Olufemi Elias, a distinguished Nigerian international lawyer and judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the Keynote Speaker.
Mr. Elias brings a wealth of global legal expertise to the conference. A full member of the prestigious Institut de Droit International, he has served in various senior international roles, including as Registrar of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and as Legal Adviser at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). His keynote is expected to provide rare insights into the evolving intersection between international law and national legal practice, with a particular focus on its implications for Nigerian practitioners.
Under the leadership of its Chair, Folashade Alli, SAN, and Vice Chair, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, NBA-SLP has now unveiled the conference dates, venue, and the first set of appointments to drive the planning process.
This decisive early start builds on the resounding success of the 2025 Annual Conference held in Jos, which set new benchmarks for inclusivity, engagement, and thought leadership. NBA-SLP is determined to raise the bar even higher for Lagos 2026 by combining structured planning with global perspectives.
To ensure seamless execution, the Section has appointed Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN, as Chair of the Conference Planning Committee (CPC), with Kelechi Obi, SAN, serving as Co-Chair. As part of this unveiling, NBA-SLP has inaugurated the Fundraising Committee, which will play a critical role in mobilizing the resources required to deliver a world-class event.
The Fundraising Committee will be led by:
• O.M. Atoyebi, SAN – Chair
• Wendy Kuku, SAN – Co-Chair
According to Folashade Alli, SAN, inaugurating the Fundraising Committee at this stage is a strategic step to kickstart the resource drive early, ensuring that funding does not become a bottleneck as other committees take shape. She emphasized that additional committees and members will be inaugurated in the coming days, guaranteeing broad representation and comprehensive coverage across all areas of conference planning.
The confirmation of Olufemi Elias as keynote speaker underscores NBA-SLP’s ambition to make Lagos 2026 a truly transformative conference. His presence will not only elevate the quality of dialogue but also inspire participants by bridging Nigeria’s domestic legal practice with international standards and perspectives.
As the countdown to April 2026 begins, NBA-SLP is demonstrating its commitment to excellence, strategic foresight, and innovation in professional development. By combining the lessons of Jos 2025 with global thought leadership, the Section is poised to deliver a gathering that will inspire, engage, and further cement its reputation for raising the standards of legal practice in Nigeria and beyond.
Read More:
NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum Announces 2025 Annual Conference Venue in Asaba
