The Chief Justice of Nigeria, NBA President, my lords and members of the bench, Your Excellencies, NBA NEC members, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, senior members of the Bar, distinguished colleagues I welcome everyone to the 2023 NBA-SLP conference holding in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This year’s conference is remarkable for many reasons.
Firstly, it is the last conference in the course of my tenure as Chairman of the Section on Legal Practice (SLP) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Secondly, the Conference is not only remarkable but is unique because unlike other previous Conferences, this year’s SLP annual Conference was not sponsored by any government at any level in Nigeria.
Put differently, we did not receive any donation from any government in Nigeria. Rather we reached out to the SLP Council members, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and our other professional colleagues as well as our friends, clients and well wishers of the SLP for donations and sponsorship. Let me cease this opportunity not only to acknowledge and thank all those who made this conference possible.
Thirdly, the 2023 elections have thrown up new leaders for the country at all levels with accompanying policy changes that have had profound effects on Nigerians and our profession. It is a thing of pride that our members are in the vanguard of managing the fallouts of the elections for peace and stability of our nation, considering Nigeria’s strategic position regionally and globally.
The nobility of the legal profession is in the huge resource it brings to bear to resolve complex challenges at every stage of society’s growth and development.
This is the philosophy that underpins NBA-SLP conferences.
Our well thought-out conferences answer to the needs of our existence at every time and season. In the year 2021 in Uyo, it was “Law, Lawyers and the Next Generation”.
In Asaba in 2022, it was “Legal Practice, Our Reality, Our Future”.
In Abuja in 2023 we have chosen to go with the theme “Legal Practice Without Borders” to engage with global issues of transformation in the legal profession which have come upon us; the challenges thrown up by medico-legal solutions to healthcare needs, the age of Artificial Intelligence (Al), the largely unexplored legal spaces, et al. ‘Legal Practice Without Borders interrogates the widening scope of the legal services market and lifts the veil of jurisdictional stonewalling.
The road map for effectively dealing with contending issues in this context are in the various sessions lined up in this conference.
I enjoin you to take the bait. Be part of the discussion and let your views be heard.
It may just be the solution the world has been waiting for.
Take time to unwind, life is for the living. From the Bwari Pottery Village to the city center, there are great places guaranteed to relax your nerves for the duration of the Conference. Abuja, as the federal capital territory and one of the fastest growing cities in the world has so many opportunities that can be mined.
I invite you to look keenly and take advantage of them, build enduring partnerships, alliances and working collaborations to impact on your legal practice in our borderless circumstance.
My profound gratitude goes forth to our distinguished guests, resource persons, sponsors and members of the Executive Committee of the SLP; you have made this event a reality.
May I specially commend the Conference Planning Committee under the very able leadership of Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN as Chairman and Tony Krukrubo, SAN as Alternate Chairman.
The Committee went the extra mile to ensure that you are more equipped for a “Legal Practice Without Borders” after this Conference.
Please do not hesitate to ask any member of the Executive or the Conference Planning Committee should you have need for any assistance in-order to make this conference an unforgettable experience.
Finally we thank the conferees, delegates, resource persons and special invitees, gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen for honouring our invitation. Without your presence here, there will be no conference. We thank you most profoundly.
The taste of this richly prepared pudding is in this nourishing conference buffet. Have a wonderful SLP conference.
You are welcome.
Thank you.
•Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, FCArb, DSSRS, KSG, Chairman NBA-SLP
Welcome Address Of The Chairman NBA Section On Legal Practice At The NBA-SLP 2023 Annual Conference From 16-19th July 2023
