2015 business law conference to set economic agenda for incoming administration -SBL COUNCIL
The Council of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) has expressed optimism that the 9th edition of the Annual Business Law conference will set an economic agenda for the incoming administration.
Speaking at a press briefing to announce the 2015 conference, which will hold from June 7 – 9, the Chairman of the Section, Asue Ighodalo noted that with the successful conduct of the general elections, the country is poised for new beginnings. According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan’s peaceful conduct would further boost the country’s democratic credentials and reputation.
He said, “The 2015 conference is coming at a time when citizens have great expectations of the government. Thus with our theme for this year, “Regulators as Catalysts For Economic Growth’, we hope to engage regulators, policy makers and key actors in the economy; with a view to exchanging ideas and causing a change towards the improvement of Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business Index.”
Unveiling the programme for this year’s event, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee and Managing Partner, Detail Solicitors, Ayuli Jemide, disclosed that the 2015 conference format has been altered to achieve the objectives of the SBL.
“This year, the opening ceremony would be held on Sunday evening with a grand dinner. This is against our practice of having the conference open on a Monday, after a welcome cocktail the night before,” he said.
According to him, nine plenary sessions will be held at this year’s event, thereby providing an adequate forum for regulators, lawyers and business executives to dialogue on policies and regulations that shape economic growth.
“Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah will give the keynote address, while Bello Mahmud, Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission will also be on hand to speak about the ease of doing business in Nigeria. There will also be a premium plenary session on June 9, featuring the Chief Economist of PricewaterhouseCoopers, John Hawksworth, who will speak on ‘Long Term Global Economic Trends and Implications for Nigeria’. The session is based on PwC’s World 2015 Report,” he said. Noting also, that the premium plenary session was one to look out for.
Other sessions include, a session on the ‘Nigerian content & the service industry’; ‘Value based pricing for legal services’; ‘Improving Nigeria’s ease of doing business; a Counsel-to-Counsel roundtable, Young Lawyers roundtable with senior lawyers; Young Lawyers visit law firms (Olaniwun Ajayi, Aluko&Oyebode, Templars); and two international sessions: one on ’Chinese Lending In Africa’ and the other on ’Power Privatization Learning Curves’ and a few more. The Planning Committee has said that the 2015 conference aims to attract at least 1,000 delegates, including practicing lawyers, in-house counsel in the private and public sector, corporate Nigeria and the government. Conference activities would also include an opening dinner, a boat cruise; a closing party and an excursion for young lawyers to three top law firms for mentoring sessions.
The Section on Business Law is the specialist arm of the Nigerian Bar Association, which engenders the development of commercial law and specialised legal practice in Nigeria. Its annual business law conferences seek to create an environment for business lawyers within and outside Nigeria to network and engage on issues relevant to their field; and to establish a thriving relationship between the business community and government institutions.
Theodora Kio-Lawson