The Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC) 2025 will host a pivotal session on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021: Impact, Challenges, and Opportunities for Lawyers on Tuesday, 26 August, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
Four years since its enactment, the PIA remains a transformative legal framework reshaping Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and this session promises to deliver a robust examination of its progress and prospects for the legal profession.
The distinguished panel features some of the foremost voices in petroleum law and policy:
- Ama Etuwewe, SAN (Lead Speaker): Principal Partner, Ama Etuwewe (SAN) & Co., with over 35 years of experience spanning oil & gas law, constitutional law, commercial litigation, arbitration, and corporate governance. A respected figure with landmark cases up to the Supreme Court, he is celebrated for groundbreaking contributions to petroleum and corporate law.
- Dr. Faith Amarachi Okpara (Session Coordinator): Intellectual property and data protection lawyer, Vice-Chairperson of the Data Protection Lawyers Association of Nigeria (DPLAN), and globally recognized advocate with awards in IP and data protection.
- Chikwendu Kingston Ezeugo: Deputy Director, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), with 25+ years’ experience in petroleum law, regulatory compliance, and policy development. He played a pivotal role in drafting and implementing the PIA 2021.
- Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha: Executive Director, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), with 27 years of expertise in petroleum regulation, downstream operations, and gas utilization.
- Emma Ndiyo: Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, specializing in dispute resolution and taxation. She advises multinationals on complex disputes in tax, IP, and labour law, with frequent representation before Nigerian courts and tribunals.
- Olawunmi Nwano: Coordinating Partner, Alegeh & Co., with nearly two decades of practice in commercial litigation, corporate practice, aviation, family law, and employment law. As a Notary Public, she is noted for her client-focused advocacy and mentorship of young lawyers.
- Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, SAN (Moderator): Renowned professor of energy law and former Edo State Attorney General. With 35+ years in petroleum law and policy, she has served as NNPC Legal Adviser and Secretary to the Corporation. She is also a Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow and founder of EtinPower Limited, a clean energy company.
This session will dissect the real-world impact of the PIA while charting fresh opportunities for legal practitioners in advisory, dispute resolution, regulatory, and transactional roles in the energy sector.
Photos Of Panelist:
