Former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, NBA-SPIDEL, scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
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The conference, themed “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy & Development,” will bring together leading figures from the judiciary, legal profession, government, academia, civil society and traditional institutions to examine issues affecting justice, democratic governance and national development.
Osinbajo’s keynote address will headline the Keynote Session on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
The session will be chaired by former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima, OFR, CFR, while Professor Pat Utomi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Values and Leadership; Lisa Henry, Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims; and Associate Professor Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, will respond to the keynote address.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, is also expected to deliver a Special Address at the conference.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, will deliver the Distinguished NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference Speech.
The opening ceremony will feature welcome remarks by the Chairman of the NBA-SPIDEL 2026 Conference Planning Committee, Sir Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, followed by a welcome address from the Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Professor Uju Agomoh.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, will deliver the NBA President’s Address.
Several former Presidents of the NBA are also expected to deliver goodwill messages at the conference.
They include Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, CON; Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN; Mr. Olumide Akpata; and Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The conference will also attract prominent political and government leaders, particularly from the South-East.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah; Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru; and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, are scheduled to deliver goodwill messages.
Also expected to address the gathering is the former Chairman of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Lawrence Agubuzu, CFR.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, will deliver an address and formally declare the 2026 NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference open.
The keynote session will subsequently provide an opportunity for participants to make interventions and engage with the issues raised by Osinbajo and the designated respondents.
NBA-SPIDEL Vice-Chairman, Mr. Paul Daudu, SAN, will deliver the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Session.
Veteran Nollywood actor and lawyer, Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo, MFR, whose real name is Modestus Onyekwere, has confirmed his attendance and will serve as compere for the opening ceremony.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for lawyers, judges, policymakers, academics, civil society actors and other stakeholders to examine the role of law and public-interest advocacy in strengthening Nigeria’s justice system, democratic institutions and development process.
With Osinbajo leading the keynote conversation, the CJN delivering a Special Address and the Attorney-General of the Federation presenting the Distinguished NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference Speech, organisers say the Umuahia gathering will feature wide-ranging perspectives on the relationship between justice, democracy and development.
The participation of South-East governors and other political leaders will also bring governance and regional perspectives into the discussions, while contributions from Utomi, Henry and Amadi are expected to broaden the conversation around public interest, human rights, democratic accountability and institutional development.
Interested participants can register for the conference through: https://app.nbaspidel.ng/en/public/events/nba-spidel-2026-annual-conference
Further information and general enquiries are available at: https://www.nbaspidel.ng
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