The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has received a high-level delegation from the Ugandan Law Reform Commission (ULRC), accompanied by representatives of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), during a benchmarking visit focused on legal reform, professional regulation and virtual asset oversight.
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The delegation visited the Founder of the Nigerian Law Society, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN and Life Bencher, at J-K Gadzama Court on September 10, 2026, in what formed a major part of the Ugandan team’s benchmarking engagement in Nigeria.
The visit was facilitated by the SEC and convened at the NLS National Secretariat, bringing together members of the Nigerian Law Society, the Nigerian Bar Association and representatives of the Ugandan delegation.
All members of the Ugandan delegation are also members of the Uganda Law Society, a development that added another dimension to discussions on the role of professional bodies in legal reform and the evolving debate over single and plural Bar structures.
Discussions centred on the institutional challenges confronting law societies across different jurisdictions, the case for a plural Bar and the experience of the Nigerian Law Society in seeking recognition and space within Nigeria’s legal profession.
The Ugandan delegates also shared aspects of their own experience, including the evolution of the Uganda Law Society and efforts to balance statutory recognition with professional plurality.
The President of the Nigerian Law Society, Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, was also present alongside other members of both the NLS and NBA.
Welcoming the delegation, Gadzama said the Nigerian Law Society was established to provide legal practitioners with what he described as a credible alternative professional platform.
He also argued that growing international support for a plural Bar strengthens the case for a more inclusive legal profession in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Gadzama, who is also a member of the East African Law Society, said the engagement with the Ugandan delegation was important for cross-border legal cooperation and professional development.
The Ugandan delegation was led by Mr. Rutaremwa Kenneth, who said Nigeria was selected for the benchmarking exercise because of its stable economy and the role professional bodies such as the Nigerian Law Society play in legal development.
The ULRC delegation also included Ms. Agnes Kisamba, PHO, and Mr. Edward T. Mugwanya, Legal Research Officer.
Representatives of the Nigerian SEC at the engagement were Mr. Anthony Edet, Head of Protocol; Ms. Anwulika Odinwe, Senior Manager; Mr. Ekemini Akpan, International Relations; and Mr. Udokwere Michael, International Relations.
Beyond professional association issues, the discussions also covered the regulation, registration and licensing of Virtual Asset Service Providers.
NLS members reportedly offered guidance on consumer protection, the relationship between legal practitioners and the regulatory structure, and strategies for combating money laundering and terrorism financing while preserving financial stability.
The Nigerian side also highlighted possible legislative gaps which the Ugandan delegation may consider in its own reform process.
Gadzama commended the delegation for what he described as a thorough engagement and reaffirmed the NLS’s commitment to the rule of law, international collaboration and professional plurality.
He added that the exchange on law societies, the plural Bar and the future direction of the legal profession would strengthen the case for what he called a level playing field in Nigeria.
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