J-K Gadzama LLP has announced that the 19th edition of its Annual Public Lecture will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, bringing together leading legal practitioners, technology experts, academics and policymakers to examine the future of employment in Nigeria amid the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
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The lecture, scheduled to commence virtually at 2:00 p.m. West African Time (WAT), will focus on the theme, “The Future of Work: Preparing Nigeria’s Workforce for the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
According to the organisers, the event will examine how Nigeria can prepare, retrain and reposition its workforce to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven global economy while ensuring that the adoption of artificial intelligence promotes inclusive growth, ethical innovation and national development.
The programme will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, while the keynote address will be delivered by Mr Rotimi Ogunyemi, a technology lawyer and Partner at BOC Legal.
In announcing the lecture, J-K Gadzama LLP explained that the annual event, which has been held for nearly two decades, has provided a platform for intellectual engagement on issues relating to law, governance, public policy and national development.
The law firm said the 19th edition would build on that tradition by addressing one of the emerging challenges confronting governments, businesses, professional institutions and workers: the implications of artificial intelligence for employment opportunities, workplace skills, professional responsibilities and economic development.
The organisers noted that technological developments were increasingly changing the skills required in different professions, making it necessary for Nigeria to develop strategies that would enable its workforce to adapt to new working methods and emerging opportunities.
The lecture is expected to provide insights into how workers and institutions can acquire relevant skills, respond to technological disruptions and position themselves to benefit from the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
Beyond workforce development, discussions will also consider the need for appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks capable of encouraging innovation while protecting employment rights and promoting accountability in the deployment of emerging technologies.
The organisers maintained that the growing adoption of AI requires a coordinated approach involving government institutions, employers, educational bodies, professional associations and technology experts.
They explained that such cooperation would be necessary to ensure that the benefits of technological advancement are widely distributed and that vulnerable categories of workers are not excluded from emerging economic opportunities.
The choice of Dr Udeh as Chairman of the occasion brings a public policy perspective to the discussion, particularly in view of the Federal Government’s efforts to promote innovation, technological advancement and the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, currently serves as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, where his responsibilities include overseeing policies and programmes intended to strengthen scientific research, innovation and technology-driven national development.
The keynote speaker, Ogunyemi, is a technology law practitioner with more than 20 years of commercial legal experience.
As a Partner at BOC Legal, his areas of practice include technology law, artificial intelligence governance, data governance, cybersecurity regulation and digital policy.
His keynote presentation is expected to examine the legal, institutional and policy implications of AI adoption, including the responsibilities of governments, businesses and professional bodies in preparing workers for technological changes.
The lecture will also feature a panel of five discussants drawn from academia, technology regulation, cybersecurity and legal practice.
Among them is Professor Lukman Abdulrauf of the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.
Abdulrauf is expected to contribute an academic and public law perspective to discussions concerning artificial intelligence, regulatory frameworks and the protection of rights in a technology-driven society.
Also participating is Ms Ibukunoluwa Owa, Assistant Manager in the Regulations Unit of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Her participation brings the perspective of Nigeria’s data protection regulatory framework to discussions on the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, particularly where workplace technology involves the collection, processing and use of personal information.
Another discussant is Mr Folahanmi Ogunbodede, Head of Systems and Cybersecurity at Far East Orchard, United Kingdom.
Ogunbodede will bring professional experience in information systems and cybersecurity to the discussion, providing a technical perspective on the security challenges associated with increased reliance on digital systems and AI-supported workplace operations.
The panel will also include Ms Pamela Victor-Ibitamuno, a Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance Analyst at CybariK, United Kingdom.
Her professional background in cybersecurity governance, risk and compliance is expected to contribute to discussions on organisational preparedness, responsible technology adoption and the management of emerging digital risks.
Completing the panel is Ms Sarah Atumga, Senior Associate at J-K Gadzama LLP, who will contribute a legal practice perspective to the discussions.
Together, the keynote speaker and discussants are expected to examine how Nigeria can balance innovation with appropriate safeguards, particularly in relation to employment, cybersecurity, data protection, workforce training and the wider public interest.
The organisers explained that the lecture is not restricted to members of the legal profession, as the issues under consideration have implications for policymakers, employers, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, academics, students and other Nigerians interested in the changing nature of work.
They emphasised that preparing Nigeria for the age of artificial intelligence would require deliberate investment in education, continuous professional development, digital literacy and skills acquisition.
The discussions will also consider how legal and policy frameworks can support the adoption of emerging technologies without neglecting the interests of workers and the need for inclusive economic development.
J-K Gadzama LLP described the Annual Public Lecture as an opportunity for professionals and members of the public to engage with ideas that could shape Nigeria’s response to technological transformation.
The firm invited interested participants to register ahead of the event and take part in the discussion on the future of work, artificial intelligence and Nigeria’s development.
Registration is available through the following link:
The 19th J-K Gadzama LLP Annual Public Lecture will take place virtually on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. WAT.
The organisers encouraged lawyers, policymakers, technology professionals, academics, students, public servants and other interested members of the public to participate in the programme.
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