NBA Lagos Announces 2026 Bar Week, Emphasizing Digital‑Age Lawyering

Stories by Steve Aya

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, has announced its 2026 Annual Bar Week, which will focus on how technology is reshaping legal practice. The event, titled “Lawyering in a Digital Age: Navigating Technology, Justice and Innovation,” will run from June 27 to July 3, 2026 and was formally revealed during a press conference at Babalakin & Co. in Lagos.

During the briefing, Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Mrs. Uchenna Ogunedo‑Akingbade, explained that the week is intended to spark substantive discussions about the rapidly changing legal landscape and the role of technology in shaping the future of legal practice and the administration of justice. She urged lawyers to embrace innovation while maintaining the profession’s ethical standards and commitment to the rule of law.

Chairperson of the Bar Week Planning Committee, Mrs. Obosa Akpata, added that the theme is timely, noting that artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation and other emerging technologies are redefining legal services worldwide. She said the conference will provide a forum for lawyers, policymakers, academics, business leaders and technology experts to explore the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.

Mrs. Akpata also announced that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun, GCON, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony and lead discussions on the future of the legal profession in an increasingly technology‑driven world.

Dr. Kubi Udofia and Mr. Babajimi Ayorinde, Head of Information Technology of the Planning Committee, outlined the week’s schedule and the technological innovations that will enhance participants’ experience.

The programme will feature two days of plenary sessions covering topics such as artificial intelligence, digital evidence, cybersecurity, data protection, innovation, access to justice and the future of legal practice in Nigeria.

In addition to the plenary sessions, the week will include a health walk, sporting events, masterclasses, a town hall meeting, an elders’ night, visits to selected institutions—including the Ikoyi Correctional Centre—and a closing party designed to foster networking and professional bonding among legal professionals.

The opening ceremony and plenary sessions will be held at the Jewel Aeida Event Centre in Lekki Phase 1, while other activities will take place at venues across Lagos, such as the MUSON Centre and the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. Organisers say the programme has been carefully structured to blend intellectual engagement, mentorship, wellness and community service.

As one of the largest and most influential branches of the NBA, the Lagos Branch believes this year’s Bar Week will offer stakeholders a valuable opportunity to reflect on the future of legal practice in Nigeria and explore how technology can be leveraged to strengthen the administration of justice while preserving the core values of fairness, ethics and the rule of law.