Renowned entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Mr. Tony Elumelu, CFR, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 WOC Justice Summit, where leading figures in the legal profession, government and private sector will examine the role of justice, the rule of law and democratic institutions in Nigeria’s economic development.
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The summit, an initiative of Wole Olanipekun & Co., is scheduled to take place on November 19, 2026, at the Body of Benchers’ Complex, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by Wole Olanipekun & Co., Elumelu’s keynote address will be titled “The Rule of Law as a Catalyst for Private Sector Growth and Economic Transformation.”
The event will also feature the unveiling of a six-volume collection titled Wole Olanipekun Through the Cases by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The collection examines landmark cases involving the firm’s founder, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, spanning his 50-year legal career since his call to the Nigerian Bar in 1976.
The statement explained that the 2026 edition of the summit will provide an opportunity for distinguished legal practitioners, policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders to consider the relationship between the administration of justice, economic development and public confidence in democratic institutions.
Elumelu, who is the immediate past Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc, currently serves as Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp Hotels Plc, and is Chairman-designate of Seplat Energy Plc.
He is also a recipient of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
With extensive business interests across financial services, power, energy, hospitality, technology and healthcare, Elumelu is expected to bring a private-sector perspective to discussions on the importance of a reliable justice system in promoting investment and economic transformation.
His keynote address will examine the relationship between the rule of law, the protection of economic rights, the prosperity of private enterprises and Nigeria’s overall economic advancement.
The address is also expected to consider how the administration of justice can support private-sector growth and the role lawyers and judicial institutions play in providing a stable environment for commercial activities.
The summit will be held under the theme, “From Precedent to Possibility: The Lawyer’s Role in Shaping the Next Fifty Years of Justice, Democracy and Public Trust.”
According to the organisers, the theme reflects the need to examine the contributions of the legal profession to the development of justice and democratic institutions while identifying opportunities for further progress over the next five decades.
The discussions will focus on the evolving responsibilities of lawyers in protecting commerce, strengthening democratic institutions, advancing the frontiers of justice and safeguarding the rule of law.
The event is expected to attract leading policymakers and decision-makers from the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government at both federal and state levels.
The organisers explained that the WOC Justice Summit was conceived as a platform for generating ideas and examining practical approaches to improving justice delivery in Nigeria.
The summit will bring together perspectives from the legal profession, government and business community to consider how the justice sector can respond to emerging economic, institutional and democratic challenges.
A major highlight of the occasion will be the presentation of the six-volume publication, Wole Olanipekun Through the Cases, which chronicles aspects of Chief Olanipekun’s contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence through cases in which he has participated.
The publication comprises analyses and commentaries on selected landmark cases handled by the senior advocate during his legal career, which began with his call to the Bar in 1976.
The collection is intended to document his professional journey through the cases and legal issues that have featured in his practice over the past 50 years.
President Tinubu is scheduled to unveil the publication as part of activities marking the summit.
The organisers said the event would provide an opportunity to reflect on the role of legal precedents in shaping the future of the justice system, while also examining the responsibilities of lawyers in strengthening public trust and democratic governance.
With Elumelu delivering the keynote address, the 2026 WOC Justice Summit will also draw attention to the relationship between legal certainty, the protection of commercial rights and the development of an investment-friendly economy.
The event is expected to bring together stakeholders across government, the legal profession and the private sector for discussions on how the rule of law can contribute to economic growth and improved justice delivery.
The summit will culminate in the unveiling of the six-volume collection celebrating Chief Olanipekun’s five decades of legal practice, combining reflections on his professional contributions with discussions on the future of justice, democracy and public trust in Nigeria.
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