Technology Doesn’t Diminish Our Profession Or Encumber The Role We Play In Helping Businesses Thrive — NBA-SBL Conference Planning Chair, Adeleke Alex-Adedipe

*Says It Enhances What We Do And More Importantly, Makes Us Even More Relevant In These Rapidly Changing Times.

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law commenced its 15th Annual Business Law Conference today, the 14th of July 2021 with this year’s Conference being a hybrid of physical and virtual attendance.

The theme of this year’s Conference is “Re-tooling Business for Change: Leveraging the Tech Explosion”.

Welcoming participants to the Conference, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Adeleke Alex-Adedipe, said technology doesn’t diminish the legal profession or encumber the critical role it plays in helping businesses thrive. Instead, it enhances what the profession does and more importantly, makes lawyers even more relevant in these rapidly changing times.

Read the full speech below:

“I am honoured and humbled to deliver the address that opens this epoch-making occasion. This is a conference like no other. Our hybrid format reflects the challenges we have been through, squaring off against the worst global humanitarian crisis of our lifetime. It also foretells a new and exciting beginning, demonstrating new possibilities that are available to us as a society when we embrace innovation. Whilst I am delighted to welcome you all to the 15th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), it gives me even greater pleasure to look to all seated present and those attending from every part of the world via livestream, and say; Welcome to the future!

“Not many get excited thinking or talking about the future these days. It is clear to see why. The manifold crises of the past eighteen months characterized by the socio-economic and political uncertainties that persist today paints tomorrow bleak. Lawyers, trained to smell trouble from a mile away, are having a nosebleed. And in the business sector, where we put out fires even before they start, there just seems to be firecrackers going off everywhere. Yet, it is in these tough and turbulent times, when the future scares more than it reassures, that we must explore the positives of change and pursue the new possibilities for progress. Hence, the theme of our Conference this year, Re-tooling Business for Change: Leveraging the Tech Explosion, couldn’t be more apt.

Interestingly, as we went about planning this year’s conference, I realised that all the keywords in our theme for the year were particularly unlawyerly terms. As custodians of a rich and noble tradition, “Change” is hardly our go-to word. Neither is “Tech”. Nor does any lawyer ever want their case or deal to “explode’ and “Tools”; well, that used to be more applicable to Engineers. It is a sign of how much the times have changed that we all find this theme relevant and critical to the value we create.

“Businesses depend on us not just to dot there “Is” and cross their “Ts”, but to provide the frameworks that drive growth and make sense of a world in motion. We cannot fulfil this critical role without embracing the innovations of the 21st century. I have been accused for years by friends and professional colleagues of obsessing over technology. I plead that this obsession is healthy and necessary for every business lawyer in the 21st century. Technology doesn’t diminish our profession or encumber the critical role we play in helping businesses thrive. Instead, it enhances what we do and more importantly, makes us even more relevant in these rapidly changing times.

“Indeed, this Conference is a testament to how technology marches us forward. Whereas one could say that last year, we held an e-Conference as a stop-gap response to health and safety restrictions on physical gathering, this year, our hybrid format is deliberate and strategic. On the one hand, it allows us to enjoy the best of both worlds – getting back the irreplaceable value of good old human contact and joining in on the refreshing excitement of borderless interactions. On the other hand, this Conference gives us an updated picture of what business rooms increasingly look like. The conversations we will have over the next two days will explore these new realities in rich and enlightening detail.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we have quite a lot to unpack in less than 48 hours. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all our panelist, speakers, moderators, comperes and coordinators without whose effort and contribution we would not be having this Conference.

“Lastly, before I step down from this podium, I must express my sincere appreciation to the NBA-SBL Council under the leadership of Mr. Ayuli Jemide for the trust and confidence reposed in me. In addition, contrary to popular belief, the Chairmanship of the Conference Planning Committee is not a one-person role; I had the entire Conference Planning Committee supporting me every step of the way. Thanks to the outstanding commitment and support of every member, it has been an immeasurably and rewarding experience for me and I believe, every one of them. Our sponsors deserve a full-hearted appreciation, as do our special guests and everyone gathered here, in person and across the world.

“On behalf of the entire 2021 SBL Conference Planning Committee team, I thank you all and I wish you an inspiring and a successful Conference. “