*George Weah Delivers Keynote At 4pm
All is set for the formal opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled to commence at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
The Nigerian Bar Association has invited all conferees, members of the legal profession, distinguished guests and other participants to attend the ceremony, which formally ushers in the substantive sessions of the eight-day gathering.
The 2026 Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is holding in Port Harcourt from August 21 to 28, 2026, bringing together members of the Bar and the Bench, government officials, policymakers, business leaders, academics, industry experts, civil society actors and other stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond.
According to the official conference programme, the Opening Ceremony will run from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will feature a series of addresses, goodwill messages and formal proceedings before the conference is declared open.
The programme is expected to begin with welcome activities, including a presentation of “Sights & Sounds,” followed by a welcome address by the Chairman of the AGC 2026 Planning Committee, Abdul Mohammed, SAN.
Goodwill messages are scheduled to be delivered by the Shehu of Borno, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, is also scheduled to address the conference, while Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, will deliver an address to delegates and guests.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is listed in the official programme to formally declare the conference open, while former Liberian President George Weah is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
The ceremony will conclude with a vote of thanks by NBA General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, before delegates proceed to the NBA Cultural Night. The Friendship Centre is also scheduled to open at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the official programme provides for a church service at 10:00 a.m., while delegates’ registration is scheduled to continue from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. before the Opening Ceremony.
The conference had commenced on Friday with the arrival and registration of delegates as well as a Jumat service. Saturday’s programme featured a Health Walk, tree planting and community clean-up, delegates’ registration, the Pre-Conference National Executive Council meeting and a Welcome Cocktail hosted by the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The NBA describes the Annual General Conference as the largest gathering of legal professionals on the African continent, bringing together the Bench, Bar, government and industry for professional discourse, networking and fellowship.
The official programme indicates that the conference will span eight days, feature more than 45 sessions, 27 breakout tracks and over 200 speakers, with discussions covering law, politics, national security, policing, technology, artificial intelligence, taxation, energy, arbitration, business, human rights and other issues affecting Nigeria and the legal profession.
In his welcome message, Chairman of the AGC Planning Committee, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, described the theme, “Beyond Limits,” as both an invitation and a challenge to the legal profession to move beyond traditional boundaries and imagine the possibilities for Nigerian law.
He said the conference would bring together the Bench, Bar, government, industry experts and civil society for conversations ranging from artificial intelligence in legal practice and the future of policing to tax reform, arbitration, energy and the rights of vulnerable persons.
The substantive conference programme gets into full swing on Monday, August 24, with a Breakfast Dialogue titled “Nation Under Construction,” featuring Femi Falana, SAN; Senator Dino Melaye; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; Hon. Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure; President of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Ssemakadde; and Rufai Oseni as moderator.
This will be followed by the Opening Plenary, “Politics, People, and Nigeria’s Future,” expected to bring presidential candidates together to answer questions concerning the 2027 election, while another plenary, “Policing in Transition,” will examine Nigeria’s proposed shift towards multi-level policing and its implications for the legal profession.
Breakout sessions will subsequently examine issues including artificial intelligence and legal practice, debt recovery and insolvency, electoral law and judicial intervention, medical negligence, pre-trial detention and bail reform, corporate governance, competition law, environmental justice, surrogacy and cross-border family law.
Tuesday’s programme will continue with discussions on insecurity, resource control, Nigeria’s new tax reforms, banking regulation, mentorship and pupillage, cryptocurrency regulation, arbitration and aviation law, among other subjects.
[Download Full Programme]
The NBA said the Annual General Conference is not limited to intellectual and professional engagements but also includes sporting, cultural and social activities designed to promote interaction and fellowship among lawyers.
Day/Date
Time
Programme / Activity
Key Details
Day 1 — Friday, Aug. 21
9:00am – 8:00pm
Delegates’ Registration
Arrival and registration of conferees
1:00pm
Jumaat Service
Religious service for Muslim delegates
Day 2 — Saturday, Aug. 22
7:00am
Health Walk
Wellness and fellowship activity
7:00am
Tree Planting / Community Clean-Up
Community engagement
9:00am – 7:00pm
Delegates’ Registration
Registration continues
3:00pm
Pre-Conference NEC
NBA National Executive Council meeting
6:00pm
Welcome Cocktail
Hosted by the Chief Judge of Rivers State
Day 3 — Sunday, Aug. 23
9:00am – 2:00pm
Delegates’ Registration
Registration continues
10:00am
Church Service
Anglican Church
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Opening Ceremony
Welcome Address; Sights & Sounds; goodwill messages by the Shehu of Borno, CJN, AGF and Commonwealth Lawyers Association President; addresses by NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara; President Bola Tinubu listed to declare conference open; former Liberian President George Weah delivers keynote; vote of thanks by NBA General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara; NBA Cultural Night
7:00pm
Opening of Friendship Centre
Social and networking activities
Day 4 — Monday, Aug. 24
9:00am – 10:30am
Breakfast Dialogue — “Nation Under Construction”
Femi Falana, SAN; Dino Melaye; Chidi Odinkalu; Muhammed Gudaji Kazaure; Isaac Ssemakadde; Rufai Oseni moderates
10:40am – 10:50am
Showcase
Dr. Ope Olusaga
11:00am – 1:00pm
Opening Plenary — “Politics, People, and Nigeria’s Future”
Presidential candidates expected to discuss issues shaping the 2027 election
1:00pm – 2:00pm
“Policing in Transition”
Nigeria’s shift to multi-level policing; Femi Gbajabiamila listed as Lead Speaker
2:00pm – 2:40pm
Lunch Break
—
Parallel
Counsel and Code
Artificial intelligence in legal practice — opportunities, ethics and risks
Parallel
Modern Shylock
Debt recovery, insolvency and business rescue
Parallel
Law, Politics, and the People’s Mandate
Elections, Electoral Act and judiciary’s role in democratic legitimacy
Parallel
Bar to Spotlight
Lawyers building unconventional careers outside the courtroom
Parallel
Vitals & Verdict
Medical negligence litigation and accountability
Parallel
Inmates
Pre-trial detention, bail reform and speedy justice
Parallel
Borderless Boardrooms
Corporate governance and cross-border compliance
Parallel
Fair Play, Fair Price
Competition law, consumer protection and market dominance
Parallel
Damages & Discretion
Oil and gas disputes, environmental justice and judicial discretion
Parallel
Across Borders
Surrogacy, adoption and cross-border family law
5:00pm
Football Competition Final
Final of the NBA football competition
Day 5 — Tuesday, Aug. 25
10:00am – 11:40am
Plenary — “Known Gun Men”
Security leaders, lawyers and policymakers examine legal and institutional gaps fuelling insecurity
11:50am – 1:20pm
Showcase — “Resource Control”
Niger Delta environmental protection and sustainable investment
1:20pm – 2:30pm
Lunch Break
—
Parallel
Pay Now, Prosper Later
Making Nigeria’s new tax reforms work in practice
Parallel
Too Big to Fail?
Systemic risk and Nigeria’s banking regulatory framework
Parallel
Rookie to Rainmaker
Mentorship, pupillage and building a legal career
Parallel
Ban to Billions
Crypto regulation, innovation and investor protection
Parallel
Lagos Seat, London Law
Rethinking the default seat for Nigerian arbitrations
Parallel
Final Boarding Call
Passenger rights, airline responsibility and aviation law
Parallel
Sovereign Wealth
Strategic investment and sovereign wealth funds
Parallel
E-Commerce and Procurement
Digital and transparent public contracting under the Nigeria First policy
Parallel
People-Centred Justice Practices Across Africa
Comparative approaches to justice reform
7:00pm
President’s Dinner
Dinner talk by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON
Day 6 — Wednesday, Aug. 26
9:00am – 10:30am
Plenary I — UNICEF
—
10:40am – 12:10pm
Plenary II — “Future Practice”
Building scalable, sustainable and future-ready legal practices
12:20pm – 1:10pm
Showcase II — NSITF
Special showcase
1:20pm – 2:30pm
Lunch Break
—
Parallel
Contracts Without Ceilings
Future-proof commercial contracts amid economic disruption — SBL
Parallel
The Business of Fees
Pricing, structuring and recovering legal fees — SLP
Parallel
Reimagining Public Interest Law
Strategic litigation for accountability and inclusive development — SPIDEL
Parallel
Position, Build, Thrive
Competition, mentorship and opportunities for young lawyers — YLF
Parallel
Big Energy: Women Who Lead
Leadership, ambition and legacy-building for women in law — NBAWF
Parallel
Let There Be Light
Reform, investment and future of Nigeria’s power sector
Parallel
Beyond Limit: Closing the Gap
Protecting the rights of women and children — FIDA
Parallel
Beyond Barriers
Removing barriers to participation for lawyers with disabilities — LWDF
8:00pm
Unbarred
Social event
Day 7 — Thursday, Aug. 27
9:00am – 11:00am
Sections’ Annual General Meetings
NBA Sections hold their AGMs
11:00am
NBA Annual General Meeting
Association-wide AGM
Day 8 — Friday, Aug. 28
10:00am – 11:00am
AGC Press Conference
Closing media engagement
11:00am
Swearing-In Ceremony
Swearing-in ceremony followed by departure
AGC Full Program
With delegates already converging on Port Harcourt, attention now turns to Sunday evening’s Opening Ceremony, which formally launches the main business of the 66th NBA Annual General Conference and begins a week of conversations expected to shape discourse around the future of the Nigerian legal profession and the country.
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