The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, today attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual Law Week of the NBA Lagos Branch, themed: “Reimagining the Practice of Law: Ethics, Innovation and the Future of Legal Services. Let’s Be Lawyers Again.”
Delivering his goodwill message at the well-attended conference, the NBA President commended the leadership and planning committee of the Lagos Branch for curating a theme that not only reflects the current realities of legal practice but challenges practitioners to reflect deeply on the future of the profession.
Mazi Afam Osigwe emphasized that in the face of rapid global change, economic uncertainties, and technological disruption, the legal profession in Nigeria must not lose sight of its ethical foundations. “It is not enough to innovate or expand practice areas,” he said. “We must return to the core of what makes us lawyers, integrity, professionalism, and fidelity to the rule of law.”
He noted that the call to “Let’s Be Lawyers Again” is a timely and urgent reminder to uphold the Rules of Professional Conduct and comply strictly with the 2025 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) Rules, which require lawyers to earn a minimum of five CPD credit hours annually. These obligations, he stressed, are not burdens but safeguards for professional excellence and public trust.
The NBA President also spoke on the critical need for lawyers to embrace innovation responsibly, striking a balance between adopting technology and maintaining the ethical duties that define the legal profession. He pointed out that the future of legal services will be shaped by how well lawyers adapt to changing client needs, deploy technology, and remain relevant in a competitive global environment—without compromising their professional identity.
“The legal profession must evolve, but in doing so, we must never become strangers to the values that built our credibility. Let us reimagine the future of law with courage and with conscience,” the NBA President charged.
The event brought together legal minds, policymakers, scholars, and technology experts to engage in robust discussions aimed at redefining legal services in a changing world.
The NBA President concluded by congratulating the Lagos Branch on what promises to be a thought-provoking and impactful law week, and reaffirmed the national leadership’s commitment to supporting innovation, ethics, and inclusive legal reforms that empower lawyers and uplift the justice sector.
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