Partnership Between CAC, NBA-SBL Is Key To Improving Commercial Law Practice In Nigeria — Akpata

A senior partner at Templars and immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, (NBA-SBL), Olumide Akpata, has said that continuous collaboration between the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and NBA-SBL is key to improving commercial law practice in Nigeria.

Akpata who made this statement at a one-day stakeholders’ forum organised by the NBA Section on Business Law and the CAC, noted that collaboration with the latter was an initiative that started a few years ago – one which has continued to yield great results.

“When we received feedback that legal practitioners were having major issues with the operations of the CAC. We approached the commission for establish the joint working committee and we created a platform where all the issues were put on the table and solutions were being proffered,” he said.

He commended the new leadership of CAC, stating that “It is good that we now have a dynamic registrar general and leadership at the CAC.”

Speaking on the objectives of SBL, he said the SBL has continued to improve the practice of commercial law in Nigeria and to make sure that commercial lawyers are competent and local lawyers are able to do the work locally.

“We increased our number of committees. We had subject matter committees for the SBL. So you have about 21 committees from different areas. It is through these committees that we deepen knowledge. We run seminars, conferences and even interventions even at the university level just to make sure that business law practitioners are equipped with contemporary knowledge.

“Nigeria is traditionally a litigation jurisdiction. We are trying to change mind-set to let people understand that there is more to law than wearing the wig and the gown and there is so much we can do,” Akpata added.

He spoke on the need for lawyers to be well-trained and equipped to function maximally in Africa’s largest economy.