2026 Law Week: NBA Eti-Osa Branch Assembles Nigerian and Canadian Legal Officers
Leading legal practitioners from across the Southwest geopolitical zone and other parts of the country will converge on Lagos next week to brainstorm on contemporary issues in the Nigerian judiciary in comparison with international trends.
The event is the 2026 Law Week celebration of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Eti-Osa Branch, and the venue of the opening ceremony is the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, with the theme: "Law as Business, Law as Justice: Profitability, Ethics and Human Rights in a Changing World.”
The Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice KAZEEM ALOGBA is billed to formally declare open the 2026 Law Week on Monday, June 8, 2026, with the Attorney-Generals and Commissioners of Justice from all six states in the Southwest geopolitical in attendance.
A team of top legal officers from Canada, led by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Manitoba, MATT WIEBE, is expected to add an international dimension to the engagements, with a view to stimulating cross-national exchange for the advancement of the judiciary.
Outlining details of the Law Week events, beginning with a news conference at the Lagos State High Court, Eti-Osa Judicial Division, the NBA Branch Chairman, OLANREWAJU OBADINA, said the theme reflects the realities confronting legal practitioners globally.
OBADINA said “as the legal profession navigates unprecedented technological advancements, changing business models, increasing demands for access to justice, and heightened concerns for human rights, it has become imperative to examine how lawyers can remain profitable while upholding the highest standards of ethics and professional responsibility.”
He said the 2026 Law Week promises to be a convergence of distinguished jurists, policymakers, academics, legal practitioners, business leaders, and stakeholders committed to shaping the future of the legal profession.
Speaking further; the NBA Eti-Osa Branch Chairman said major highlight of the opening ceremony will be the Keynote Address to be delivered by MATT WIEBE, the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Manitoba, Canada. He said WIEBE’s participation in the Law Week celebration “underscores the international relevance of this year's theme and the growing need for cross-jurisdictional conversations on the future of legal practice.”
OLANREWAJU OBADINA said after WIEBE’s Keynote Address, all six Attorneys-General from the Southwest geopolitical zone will take part in a penal session to discuss the presentation and compare notes on the legal dynamics back home with what is obtainable in other jurisdictions outside the country.
Additionally, OBADINA said there would also be a special panel session during the opening ceremony featuring the chairmen of all seven NBA branches in Lagos State, each discussing the peculiar state of affairs in their various jurisdictions, while Mrs FOLASADE ALLI, SAN will anchor a special session focused on Women and the Law.
In the subsequent days of the Law Week celebration, there would be a special spotlight on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, featuring Prof. FABIAN AJOGWU, SAN, and Mrs SOLA OSHODI-JOHN, the Registrar/CEO, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, following which a panel of selected Deans from the Faculty of Law of leading Nigerian universities would dissect the presentation.
The Eti-Osa NBA Chairman said the 2026 Law Week Planning Committee also took special notice of the importance of real estate in Lagos and allotted a session for “Real Estate Law and Practice”, with a view to addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities within “one of Nigeria's most dynamic sectors. He said Engr FEMI AKINTUNDE, GMD Alphamead Group will deliver the keynote address.
“On 10th June 2026, participants will engage in forward-looking discussions on Legal Technology, Innovation. As artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation continue to redefine legal services, this session will provide valuable insights into how legal practitioners can remain competitive, relevant, and ethically compliant in a rapidly changing environment.
“The last session on this day would be on Emerging law firms. This would be anchored by Mr OMOTOLA ATOYEBI SAN
He said the Law Week will culminate in a grand Law Dinner, bringing together members of the Bench, Bar, government, academia, and the wider business community in celebration of excellence, service, and professional achievement.
Already, Muslim members of the NBA Eti-Osa Branch, observed a special Jumat prayer on Friday, June 5, 2026, to seek divine guidance and blessings for the success of the Law Week and the legal profession.
“On Saturday, 6th June 2026, members will participate in a Health Walk aimed at promoting physical wellness and fostering camaraderie within the legal community, while “on Sunday, 7th June 2026, Christian members of the Branch will hold a Thanksgiving Service.”
OLANREWAJU OBADINA said “the NBA Eti-Osa Branch remains committed to advancing legal scholarship, promoting the rule of law, defending human rights, and fostering professional excellence. Through this Law Week, we seek to facilitate meaningful conversations that will shape the future of legal practice while reinforcing the legal profession's enduring responsibility to justice and society.”