The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch on Friday said 80 percent of young lawyers who graduate from Law School every year end up in Lagos because Lagos is the commercial hub of Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, held to herald the 2023 Lagos NBA Law Week scheduled to hold between Monday and Friday next week, the Chairman, of NBA Lagos Branch, Ikechukwu Uwanna stated that out of the 5000 lawyers who graduate from law school every year, 80 percent end up in Lagos and most of them join the Lagos NBA branch. He noted that this puts the responsibility of ensuring that these teeming number of young lawyers are properly trained, mentored and equipped for the profession on the NBA Lagos branch.
He stated further that the branch is passionate about mentorship of the young ones and have made provision for the new wig induction training programme to give the branch an opportunity to welcome them into the fold and to teach them how to navigate to become great lawyers.
Speaking on the theme of the year’s law week; “Facing the Future: Law in a Globalised Economy” he noted that NBA Lagos branch over the years has cultivated the tradition of having a law week every year which has become the intellectual festival of the branch.
“The NBA Lagos branch has over 14,000 members and it’s the biggest branch of the NBA and we have robust members who are quite interested in having their intellectual capacity always rejuvenated so they can impact in the legal sphere,” he said.
Also speaking at the event the chairman 2023 Law Week Planning committee, Adewale Adesokan SAN, said the programme promises to be engaging as there is an array of intellectuals that would engage in a lot of topics.
According to him, there would be about nine plenary sessions where various topics such as globalised economy, the ease of doing business in Nigeria, regulations of doing business in Nigeria, Data protection law, artificial intelligence transforming the judiciary, and restoration of civil disputes among others would be discussed.
Adesokan stated that it is not in doubt that our nation is on the verge of change and is gripped by anxiety, having just had a change of government following a general election. In the midst of it, there is a consensus that the Nigerian economy needs serious attention.
“The current exchange rate of the naira against major currencies around the world, an inflation rate of approximately 22.4%, and the humongous debt burden of about N77 Trillion left by the last administration, have contributed to created anxiety and apprehension about what lies in the short, medium, and long-term future of the nation and the well-being of its citizens.
“While Nigeria continues to grapple with these issues, the march of science and technology outside the shores of the country has manifested in the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, the advent of cryptocurrency, and other forms of e-money.
“The disruptions created in the world economy by the Russian / Ukraine War, the apprehension around the continued relevance of fossil fuel (which is the source of Nigerian’s major foreign exchange and energy) in the future, and the advancement of e-commerce, have all combined to throw up fresh challenges to the Nigerian nation and its new leaders.
“The Legal Profession is at the forefront of those reckoned as leaders and policy influencers in Nigeria today. As newly elected leaders settle into the business of governance, the plenary sessions of the Law Week of The Premier Branch offer a distinct opportunity for the legal profession to take its rightful place in the interrogation of these all-important issues and proffer practical solutions, not just for government at all levels, but all other Stakeholders in the Nigerian nation”, he said.
Vice Chairman and host of the press conference, Folashade Alli who is moderating one of the plenary sessions said it’s a time of networking where older members of the branch will also have the opportunity to mentor the younger ones.
“Some of us are getting old, the younger ones need to get closer to us, it’s a mentoring, a time of socials, networking. We have a guest artiste, if you come, you’ll find out who it is. We are going to dance. It’s a formal event and we also have loads of gifts we are giving out at the raffle draw”.
“And the good thing is we are going back to out alma mater, Law School so people can see what law school is and the fact what we need to improve the law school. We need all lawyers to realize that this is the school that taught us years ago and they need money, more funding, so we are going back to see how we can also help”.
Vice Chairman, Dr Adesola Falaiye is confident that this years conference is an improvement on previous years. She urged participants to come expectant and reiterated the fact that the conference was physical and hybrid.
The Vice Chairperson, NBA Lagos Branch, Mrs. Abiye Tam-George thanked the members of the planning committee for all the activities they put together and wished everyone an enjoyable conference.