Good afternoon, distinguished guests, colleagues, friends, and partners.
I am pleased to welcome you all to the 19th Annual International Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law.
We are gathered here today not just for another conference but for what has become a defining tradition: an annual meeting of minds across industries, disciplines, borders, and generations. And it is fitting that we return to this space, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial heart, to reflect, learn, and chart a way forward in our legal profession.
The theme of this year’s conference, “The Future of Business Law in an Intelligent Age,”could not be more timely. We are witnessing a global redefinition of how business is conducted, how information is processed, and how value is created. Artificial intelligence, data ecosystems, and predictive technologies are no longer ideas on the horizon; they arehere and now – today’s realities that we must engage with directly, as lawyers, as business leaders, as policymakers, and as players in every economic space.
This moment demands that we, as a legal community, become not just participants but shapers of the future. We cannot afford to remain observers on the sidelines of technological change. We must be architects of legal frameworks that are responsive, adaptive, and bold enough to embrace the unknown without sacrificing our principles. This means strengthening our engagement with regulators, legislators, and institutions, ensuring that the law evolves alongside innovation, not behind it.
Through plenaries, breakout sessions, fireside chats, master classes, and informal conversations, we will interrogate the intersection of law, innovation, regulation, investment, and impact. This year, we are especially honoured to have His Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, deliver our keynote address; his experience as a reformer and thought leader will set a powerful tone for the work ahead. Over the next 3 (three) days, we will explore how emerging technologies are transforming industries, from manufacturing and aviation to fintech, healthcare, entertainment, and education, and ask ourselves what role we must play to ensure that business law remains not only relevant but indispensable in shaping the future. This year’s programme has been carefully curated to ensure that we are leading the ongoing discussions around shaping contextually relevant, commercially sound, and socially conscious responses.
This conference is not just about the future of business law; it is about the future of business. As Africa positions itself as a hub for innovation, trade, and investment, the Nigerian legal community has a critical role to play in shaping policies, fostering trust, and driving the integrity of markets across the continent. What we discuss here will echo far beyond this hall, and the ripple effects of our ideas and actions will be felt in boardrooms, courtrooms, startups, government houses, and classrooms.
What makes this gathering truly powerful is not just the programme, it is the people. This
year, we welcome over a thousand delegates, seasoned professionals, young lawyers, regulators, senior advocates and leaders of this profession, public servants, entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors. Each of you brings your experience, perspectives, and energy. I encourage everyone connect, collaborate, contribute. To the lawyers, I say this – whether you advise multinationals, lead internal legal teams, or represent SMEs navigating change,
there is something for everyone here: insight, tools, and connections that can strengthen how you show up in your role and for your clients.
I would like to thank the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, for his leadership of our bar, and his support for this Section. I would also like to thank the executives of the NBA who at various times alongside our President have provided support and guidance to me in my role as the chairman of this section. Let me take a moment to acknowledge and thank the phenomenal team that made this conference possible, the 2025
Conference Planning Committee under the committed leadership of Ms. Solape Peters (Chair) and Mr. Oludare Senbore (Vice chair). I also thank our sponsors and partners, whose support reflects their belief in the importance of this platform. To all our resource persons who have so graciously committed their time and expertise – you have our
gratitude. And the SBL Executive Committee and Secretariat, whose tireless behind-thescenes work has brought this vision to life – thank you. Over the past year, we have deepened our investment in capacity-building, expanded our digital footprint, and created new spaces for dialogue across sectors. The SBL continues to evolve, and I am proud of the energy, inclusiveness, and direction this leadership team has championed.
As we open this 19th edition of the NBA-SBL Conference, let us remind ourselves that we are here not just to witness change, but to influence it. Not just to talk, but to act. Not just to listen, but to lead.
I hope that by the time we leave this venue in a few days, we will do so with more than just conference bags and notebooks; we will go with new ideas, new relationships, new perspectives, and a renewed commitment to making business law work for this intelligent, ever-evolving age. On behalf of the NBA-SBL Executive Committee and the Conference Planning Committee, I welcome you all.
Thank you.