The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, is set to lead prominent jurists, senior advocates, human rights activists, international development partners and other key public interest stakeholders to Umuahia, Abia State, for the 2026 Annual Conference of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL).
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
Among the prominent personalities expected at the conference are leading human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; and Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS.
The conference, which will feature 17 technical sessions covering critical issues in public interest and development law, is scheduled to hold from November 9 to 13, 2026, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, with the Abia State Government as the headline sponsor.
The theme of the five-day conference is “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy & Development.”
Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Sir Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, who unveiled details of the technical sessions, disclosed that the conference would bring together leading legal practitioners, policymakers, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to examine challenges affecting justice delivery, democratic governance, institutional accountability and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The conference will feature discussions on the rule of law, institutional independence, public accountability, access to justice, human rights, anti-corruption, national security, climate justice, public interest litigation and the role of lawyers in promoting good governance.
Following the opening ceremony and keynote session, the second technical session will examine “Advancing Democracy Through Rule of Law, Institutional Independence and Public Accountability.”
The session will be chaired by retired Justice Obisike Oji, who will lead a panel of experts expected to provide diverse perspectives on pressing governance and accountability issues.
The panellists include Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Hon. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts; Professor Joy Ezeilo, SAN, Executive Director of the Women Aid Collective; Mr. Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, former NBA General Secretary; and Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State and Regional Coordinator of the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice.
The session is expected to examine the relationship between democratic governance, the rule of law, the independence of public institutions and the responsibility of government officials to remain accountable to citizens.
The third technical session, titled “Law, Governance, and Development: Promoting Public Interest and Sustainable Development in the Delivery of Services,” will be chaired by Mr. Kenneth Chukwuemeka Ahia, SAN.
Ahia, who has extensive experience in regulatory and statutory matters, is an assessor for the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria and a former Commissioner of the Abia State Law Review and Reform Commission.
The session will bring together experts from the legal profession, international development institutions, academia and civil society to examine how law and governance can promote effective service delivery and sustainable development.
The panellists include Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Mr. Chris Okeke, Head of Governance at the British High Commission and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson of Caleb University and former NBA Second Vice President; Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, founder of the Sub Saharan Social Development Organization and Regional Director of Ford Foundation West Africa; and Mr. Ikhide Ehigheua, SAN, former NBA-SPIDEL Vice Chairman.
The conference will also feature a technical session on “Strengthening the Legal Aid Architecture for Public Interest,” to be chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.
The session is expected to examine strategies for strengthening legal aid institutions and improving access to legal representation, particularly for indigent persons and vulnerable groups.
Another session will focus on “The Media and Public Interest: Protecting Civic Space and Promoting Public Interest Journalism.”
The discussion will explore the relationship between media freedom, civic participation, public accountability and the role of journalism in protecting democratic values and advancing public interest.
Participants will also examine “Innovative Justice: Reimagining Justice Delivery Through Technology, Justice Innovation and People-Centred Justice.”
The session will consider how technological innovations and people-centred approaches can improve the administration of justice, strengthen legal institutions and make justice delivery more accessible.
Session Six will examine “Rule of Law, Accountability, Anti-Corruption, National Security and Human Rights: Issues, Nexus, and Strategies for Advancing Public Interest.”
The session will be chaired by Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, and will explore the relationship between national security, anti-corruption efforts, human rights protection and the rule of law.
The conference will equally feature a Public Interest Litigation Clinic and Practical Training Session designed to strengthen the capacity of legal practitioners to pursue cases involving public interest and constitutional accountability.
Session Eight will address “In Public Interest: Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities and Vulnerable Groups.”
The discussion will focus on challenges faced by persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in accessing justice, as well as legal and institutional reforms needed to address those barriers.
Session Nine will examine “Public Interest Litigation and Related Issues of Expanding Access to Justice,” while Session Ten will focus on “Strategic Litigation and Public Interest Advocacy.”
The sessions will consider how litigation and advocacy can be deployed to challenge unlawful conduct, protect fundamental rights and promote institutional reforms.
Session Eleven will address “Law, Climate Justice and Sustainable Development,” with discussions expected to examine the role of legal frameworks in environmental protection, climate accountability and sustainable development.
Session Twelve will focus on “Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Practice,” highlighting the responsibility of legal practitioners to provide legal services in matters affecting vulnerable persons and the wider public.
Activities on the fourth day of the conference, Thursday, November 12, 2026, will begin with a “Public Interest Litigation Introductory Training Session.”
The training is designed to build a network of lawyers equipped to challenge the unlawful exercise of public power and promote systemic reforms through strategic litigation.
The session will be chaired by Ntufam Mba Ukweni, SAN, while former NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, will serve as the lead trainer.
Other trainers include Mr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN, former Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Institute, and Mr. Bulus Atsen, fsi, Vice Chairman of the NBA-SPIDEL Litigation Committee.
The training will provide participants with practical insights into the use of public interest litigation to advance constitutional rights, strengthen public accountability and address systemic injustices.
Session Fourteen will examine “In Public Interest: Advancing Non-Custodial Sanctions, Oversight of Places of Detention, and Preventing Deaths in Custody.”
The session will focus on the administration of criminal justice, the protection of detainees’ rights, the use of non-custodial sentencing measures and the need for effective oversight of correctional and detention facilities.
Session Fifteen will address “Tackling Corruption, Terrorist Financing, Targeted Financial Sanctions and the Lawyer: Professional Duty, National Security and Human Rights.”
The discussion will examine the professional responsibilities of legal practitioners in combating corruption and terrorist financing while safeguarding fundamental rights and maintaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Session Sixteen, titled “NBA-SPIDEL Civil Society Forum: Sustainability and Strengthening of Civil Society Organizations and the Promotion of Public Interest,” will focus on the role of civil society organisations in promoting accountability, protecting civic space and advancing public interest initiatives.
The final technical session will examine “Walking the Talk: Promoting Public Interest Through the NBA-SPIDEL.”
The session is expected to consider practical strategies for translating the resolutions and recommendations of the conference into sustained public interest initiatives.
A press conference will be held immediately after the technical sessions to unveil the conference’s general report and communiqué.
The communiqué is expected to capture the major discussions, resolutions and recommendations arising from the conference.
Delegates will also be treated to a Dinner and Awards Night, featuring a red-carpet reception, dinner, cultural entertainment and recognition of deserving individuals and institutions.
The event is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to interact, celebrate professional achievements and recognise contributions to public interest and development law.
Activities on the fifth day, Friday, November 13, 2026, will focus on visits to tourist sites, allowing delegates to explore some of the attractions in Abia State.
With 17 technical sessions covering a broad range of legal, governance and development issues, the organisers said the conference promises to provide a platform for intellectual engagement, professional development, networking and practical discussions on strengthening the rule of law and advancing public interest in Nigeria.
The conference will also provide opportunities for collaboration among lawyers, policymakers, civil society organisations, international development partners and other stakeholders committed to promoting justice, democracy and sustainable development.
Interested legal practitioners and other participants are encouraged to register for the conference through the official NBA-SPIDEL registration portal.
Registration: https://app.nbaspidel.ng/en/public/events/nba-spidel-2026-annual-conference
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
