The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has released its official communiqué from the 65th Annual General Conference (AGC), held from August 22 to 29, 2025, at the International Conference Centre in Enugu. Themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” the conference brought together leaders from the Bar and Bench, industry captains, political figures, international partners, and civil society to deliberate on how the legal profession can address Nigeria’s and Africa’s pressing challenges.
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The communiqué opens with highlights from the event, noting the opening remarks by His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR, the Sultan of Sokoto, who chaired the ceremony. He emphasized law’s central role in ensuring societal order, justice, and peace, urging lawyers to champion reforms that expand social justice and improve access for vulnerable groups.
Keynote speaker Hon. Julius Malema, MP, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters, added a continental perspective. He challenged African lawyers to decolonize their legal systems, reject oppressive colonial frameworks, and build legal traditions rooted in African dignity and cultural identity. The communiqué reflects his message, warning that “African lawyers are mainly mere enforcers of outdated systems” and calling for bold innovations in governance, justice, and economic emancipation.
Declaring the conference open, Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah welcomed more than 20,000 delegates, praised the NBA’s choice of Enugu as host, and pledged his administration’s support for justice sector reforms.
The communiqué consolidates deliberations from various sessions into 51 key observations, capturing the breadth of issues confronting Nigeria and the wider continent:
- Social and Economic Inequality: The growing divide between rich and poor denies millions access to justice (2.1–2.3), while reckless political spending and weak institutions deepen public distrust (2.17).
- Outdated Laws and Colonial Legacies: Many Nigerian laws remain disconnected from present realities (2.2). Colonial systems continue to dominate (2.5), while Africa lacks homegrown legal frameworks that reflect cultural pride and identity (2.7–2.8).
- Human Rights and Security: Arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings by security agencies have created a trust deficit (2.45–2.48). Children remain vulnerable due to weak enforcement of the Child Rights Act and pandemic-era abuses (2.49–2.51).
- Gender and Women’s Rights: Despite women’s progress in politics and law (2.33), systemic discrimination, weak law enforcement, and underrepresentation persist in governance and the judiciary (2.34–2.38).
- Economic Reforms and Infrastructure: Poorly sequenced reforms such as subsidy removal and inflationary pressures are crippling the economy (2.15–2.16). Infrastructure spending must be tied to governance reforms to prevent waste (2.24–2.25), while lawyers must step up against corruption (2.26).
- Technology and AI in Law: Artificial intelligence is reshaping legal practice (2.18–2.20). While it enhances productivity, challenges such as hallucinations (2.21) highlight the need for cautious adoption, especially as younger lawyers embrace its tools (2.23, 2.30).
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): ADR should complement litigation without replicating its delays (2.27–2.28).
- Tax Reforms and Professional Duties: Recent tax changes boost revenue but create uncertainty (2.31–2.32). Lawyers are reminded of their duty to report suspicious transactions (2.38).
- Globalization and Workplace Rights: Safeguards are needed to avoid recolonization through globalization (2.39), while workplace safety must be treated as a fundamental human right (2.40).
- Sports and Entertainment: These emerging sectors require robust legal protection (2.41–2.42).
- Prosecutorial Independence: The communiqué flagged tensions between independence and accountability, warning against abuse of nolle prosequi powers (2.43–2.44).
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Beyond these sectoral issues, the communiqué reiterates that effective lawyering requires discipline, foresight, resilience, and mentorship (2.11–2.13). It emphasizes that excellence must remain grounded in diligence and integrity, regardless of reforms (2.14). The NBA further called for stronger collaboration among African nations (2.10) and urged the legal profession to take the lead in driving reforms and championing social justice (2.4).
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