*George Weah Delivers Keynote At 4pm
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All is set for the formal opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled to commence at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
The Nigerian Bar Association has invited all conferees, members of the legal profession, distinguished guests and other participants to attend the ceremony, which formally ushers in the substantive sessions of the eight-day gathering.
The 2026 Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is holding in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28, 2026, bringing together members of the Bar and the Bench, government officials, policymakers, business leaders, academics, industry experts, civil society actors and other stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond.
According to the official conference programme, the Opening Ceremony will run from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will feature a series of addresses, goodwill messages and formal proceedings before the conference is declared open.
The programme is expected to begin with welcome activities, including a presentation of “Sights & Sounds,” followed by a welcome address by the Chairman of the AGC 2026 Planning Committee, Abdul Mohammed, SAN.
Goodwill messages are scheduled to be delivered by the Shehu of Borno, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, is also scheduled to address the conference, while Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, will deliver an address to delegates and guests.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is listed in the official programme to formally declare the conference open, while former Liberian President George Weah is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
The ceremony will conclude with a vote of thanks by NBA General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, before delegates proceed to the NBA Cultural Night. The Friendship Centre is also scheduled to open at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the official programme provides for a church service at 10:00 a.m., while delegates’ registration is scheduled to continue from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. before the Opening Ceremony.
The conference had commenced on Friday with the arrival and registration of delegates as well as a Jumat service. Saturday’s programme featured a Health Walk, tree planting and community clean-up, delegates’ registration, the Pre-Conference National Executive Council meeting and a Welcome Cocktail hosted by the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The NBA describes the Annual General Conference as the largest gathering of legal professionals on the African continent, bringing together the Bench, Bar, government and industry for professional discourse, networking and fellowship.
The official programme indicates that the conference will span eight days, feature more than 45 sessions, 27 breakout tracks and over 200 speakers, with discussions covering law, politics, national security, policing, technology, artificial intelligence, taxation, energy, arbitration, business, human rights and other issues affecting Nigeria and the legal profession.
In his welcome message, Chairman of the AGC Planning Committee, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, described the theme, “Beyond Limits,” as both an invitation and a challenge to the legal profession to move beyond traditional boundaries and imagine the possibilities for Nigerian law.
He said the conference would bring together the Bench, Bar, government, industry experts and civil society for conversations ranging from artificial intelligence in legal practice and the future of policing to tax reform, arbitration, energy and the rights of vulnerable persons.
The substantive conference programme gets into full swing on Monday, August 24, with a Breakfast Dialogue titled “Nation Under Construction,” featuring Femi Falana, SAN; Senator Dino Melaye; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; Hon. Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure; President of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Ssemakadde; and Rufai Oseni as moderator.
This will be followed by the Opening Plenary, “Politics, People, and Nigeria’s Future,” expected to bring presidential candidates together to answer questions concerning the 2027 election, while another plenary, “Policing in Transition,” will examine Nigeria’s proposed shift towards multi-level policing and its implications for the legal profession.
Breakout sessions will subsequently examine issues including artificial intelligence and legal practice, debt recovery and insolvency, electoral law and judicial intervention, medical negligence, pre-trial detention and bail reform, corporate governance, competition law, environmental justice, surrogacy and cross-border family law.
Tuesday’s programme will continue with discussions on insecurity, resource control, Nigeria’s new tax reforms, banking regulation, mentorship and pupillage, cryptocurrency regulation, arbitration and aviation law, among other subjects.
The NBA said the Annual General Conference is not limited to intellectual and professional engagements but also includes sporting, cultural and social activities designed to promote interaction and fellowship among lawyers.
| Day/Date | Time | Programme / Activity | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Friday, Aug. 21 | 9:00am – 8:00pm | Delegates’ Registration | Arrival and registration of conferees |
| 1:00pm | Jumaat Service | Religious service for Muslim delegates | |
| Day 2 — Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:00am | Health Walk | Wellness and fellowship activity |
| 7:00am | Tree Planting / Community Clean-Up | Community engagement | |
| 9:00am – 7:00pm | Delegates’ Registration | Registration continues | |
| 3:00pm | Pre-Conference NEC | NBA National Executive Council meeting | |
| 6:00pm | Welcome Cocktail | Hosted by the Chief Judge of Rivers State | |
| Day 3 — Sunday, Aug. 23 | 9:00am – 2:00pm | Delegates’ Registration | Registration continues |
| 10:00am | Church Service | Anglican Church | |
| 4:00pm – 6:00pm | Opening Ceremony | Welcome Address; Sights & Sounds; goodwill messages by the Shehu of Borno, CJN, AGF and Commonwealth Lawyers Association President; addresses by NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara; President Bola Tinubu listed to declare conference open; former Liberian President George Weah delivers keynote; vote of thanks by NBA General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara; NBA Cultural Night | |
| 7:00pm | Opening of Friendship Centre | Social and networking activities | |
| Day 4 — Monday, Aug. 24 | 9:00am – 10:30am | Breakfast Dialogue — “Nation Under Construction” | Femi Falana, SAN; Dino Melaye; Chidi Odinkalu; Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure; Isaac Ssemakadde; Rufai Oseni moderates |
| 10:40am – 10:50am | Showcase | Dr. Ope Olusaga | |
| 11:00am – 1:00pm | Opening Plenary — “Politics, People, and Nigeria’s Future” | Presidential candidates expected to discuss issues shaping the 2027 election | |
| 1:00pm – 2:00pm | “Policing in Transition” | Nigeria’s shift to multi-level policing; Femi Gbajabiamila listed as Lead Speaker | |
| 2:00pm – 2:40pm | Lunch Break | — | |
| Parallel | Counsel and Code | Artificial intelligence in legal practice — opportunities, ethics and risks | |
| Parallel | Modern Shylock | Debt recovery, insolvency and business rescue | |
| Parallel | Law, Politics, and the People’s Mandate | Elections, Electoral Act and judiciary’s role in democratic legitimacy | |
| Parallel | Bar to Spotlight | Lawyers building unconventional careers outside the courtroom | |
| Parallel | Vitals & Verdict | Medical negligence litigation and accountability | |
| Parallel | Inmates | Pre-trial detention, bail reform and speedy justice | |
| Parallel | Borderless Boardrooms | Corporate governance and cross-border compliance | |
| Parallel | Fair Play, Fair Price | Competition law, consumer protection and market dominance | |
| Parallel | Damages & Discretion | Oil and gas disputes, environmental justice and judicial discretion | |
| Parallel | Across Borders | Surrogacy, adoption and cross-border family law | |
| 5:00pm | Football Competition Final | Final of the NBA football competition | |
| Day 5 — Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 10:00am – 11:40am | Plenary — “Known Gun Men” | Security leaders, lawyers and policymakers examine legal and institutional gaps fuelling insecurity |
| 11:50am – 1:20pm | Showcase — “Resource Control” | Niger Delta environmental protection and sustainable investment | |
| 1:20pm – 2:30pm | Lunch Break | — | |
| Parallel | Pay Now, Prosper Later | Making Nigeria’s new tax reforms work in practice | |
| Parallel | Too Big to Fail? | Systemic risk and Nigeria’s banking regulatory framework | |
| Parallel | Rookie to Rainmaker | Mentorship, pupillage and building a legal career | |
| Parallel | Ban to Billions | Crypto regulation, innovation and investor protection | |
| Parallel | Lagos Seat, London Law | Rethinking the default seat for Nigerian arbitrations | |
| Parallel | Final Boarding Call | Passenger rights, airline responsibility and aviation law | |
| Parallel | Sovereign Wealth | Strategic investment and sovereign wealth funds | |
| Parallel | E-Commerce and Procurement | Digital and transparent public contracting under the Nigeria First policy | |
| Parallel | People-Centred Justice Practices Across Africa | Comparative approaches to justice reform | |
| 7:00pm | President’s Dinner | Dinner talk by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON | |
| Day 6 — Wednesday, Aug. 26 | 9:00am – 10:30am | Plenary I — UNICEF | — |
| 10:40am – 12:10pm | Plenary II — “Future Practice” | Building scalable, sustainable and future-ready legal practices | |
| 12:20pm – 1:10pm | Showcase II — NSITF | Special showcase | |
| 1:20pm – 2:30pm | Lunch Break | — | |
| Parallel | Contracts Without Ceilings | Future-proof commercial contracts amid economic disruption — SBL | |
| Parallel | The Business of Fees | Pricing, structuring and recovering legal fees — SLP | |
| Parallel | Reimagining Public Interest Law | Strategic litigation for accountability and inclusive development — SPIDEL | |
| Parallel | Position, Build, Thrive | Competition, mentorship and opportunities for young lawyers — YLF | |
| Parallel | Big Energy: Women Who Lead | Leadership, ambition and legacy-building for women in law — NBAWF | |
| Parallel | Let There Be Light | Reform, investment and future of Nigeria’s power sector | |
| Parallel | Beyond Limit: Closing the Gap | Protecting the rights of women and children — FIDA | |
| Parallel | Beyond Barriers | Removing barriers to participation for lawyers with disabilities — LWDF | |
| 8:00pm | Unbarred | Social event | |
| Day 7 — Thursday, Aug. 27 | 9:00am – 11:00am | Sections’ Annual General Meetings | NBA Sections hold their AGMs |
| 11:00am | NBA Annual General Meeting | Association-wide AGM | |
| Day 8 — Friday, Aug. 28 | 10:00am – 11:00am | AGC Press Conference | Closing media engagement |
| 11:00am | Swearing-In Ceremony | Swearing-in ceremony followed by departure |
With delegates already converging on Port Harcourt, attention now turns to Sunday evening’s Opening Ceremony, which formally launches the main business of the 66th NBA Annual General Conference and begins a week of conversations expected to shape discourse around the future of the Nigerian legal profession and the country.
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