The 2025 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has commenced in Enugu, drawing together leading figures in law, politics, and culture with a resounding appeal for legal practitioners to safeguard justice, fairness, and equality in society.
The opening session, held on Sunday at the Enugu International Conference Centre, marked a historic return of the NBA’s flagship gathering to the Southeast after 22 years.
Themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” the conference is regarded as Africa’s largest assembly of lawyers and is already stirring conversations on the future of Nigeria’s legal and democratic order.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, himself a lawyer, declared the conference open, spotlighting reforms his administration has rolled out in the justice sector.
According to him, these reforms are part of a broader agenda to position Enugu as a hub for business, leisure, and investment.
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In his keynote address, South African opposition leader Julius Malema argued that legality must not be confused with justice.
Known for his vocal stance on economic freedom, Malema charged lawyers to challenge laws that may be legal on paper but unjust in practice, urging reforms that place fairness and protection of citizens above technicalities.
Also addressing participants, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasized the moral responsibility of lawyers to act as the conscience of the nation, especially in times of political and economic uncertainty.
With Nigeria currently considering constitutional amendments, the deliberations at the week-long conference are expected to shape critical debates and possibly influence the trajectory of the nation’s legal system.