Government should tap into the resources of the SBL – Seni Adio
The Conference Planning Committee (CPC) chair of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law, Seni Adio has said there is need for the government to tap into the resource of the SBL.
The CPC chair, who said this in a chat with LEGALBUSINESS, declared that the SBL by its very nature was filled with talent, expertise and resources to greatly impact on the development of the economy.
According to him, the SBL, whose primary goal is to raise the bar in legal practice in Nigeria by providing necessary tools to empower members towards a specialised practice, is strategically positioned to work with policy makers and regulatory bodies to deal with the challenges of a global economy.
“With our expertise and experience, we continue to raise awareness on various developmental issues and hope the government will pay attention to the solutions proffered,” he said.
The 2014 “EXEMPLARY GOVERNANCE ENHANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA, hopes to address some very critical issues around governance and economic development that are relevant to this time.
According to Adio, the CPC is raising the stakes this year with its choice of theme, speakers, breakout topics and the general planning for the 2014 Annual Business Law Conference, which it confirms will meet the standard of any other international conference in whatever part of the world.
Adio, who is the third CPC chair for this administration, has expressed optimism at the possibility of a successful conference, regardless of the hard work that comes with planning an event of this magnitude.
“With the level of preparation going on at the moment, I can tell you for certain that it is a lot of work. However, I cannot play any naivety about what I was stepping into, because it was a rare privilege to have been called upon to serve in this capacity. And it has been made no less easy, knowing that I was stepping into the very large shoes of Dr. Gbolahan Elias, SAN, and Soji Awogbade, my more recent predecessors,” he said.
The CPC chair, who spoke further on the conference planning, attributed the seemingly smooth progress of pre-conference activities to a supportive council. “The process has been a little less painstaking than it would ordinarily be, and even fun sometimes, because every single member of the council has been extremely supportive. I have to say that it is been a delight working as a team with the Council Chair, Gbenga Oyebode, his Vice Asue Ighodalo and Olu Akpata, the Secretary of the Section,” he stated.
As the Specialisation arm of the NBA, the Section on Business Law is strengthened by its committees covering various areas of specialisation, such as Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution, Aviation, Banking, Finance & Insolvency, Capital Markets, Energy & Natural Resources & Environment, Employment & Industrial Relations, Infrastructure, Information and Communications Technology, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Maritime, Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring, Rail & road Transportation, and Taxation.
Other committees include: the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Committee, the Young Lawyers Forum and the Law Practice Management Committee.
According to Adio, the SBL committees are gearing up for another round of robust deliberations at the 2014 conference, which will be done in over three plenary sessions and 19 breakout sessions.
“These breakout sessions,” he explained, “will be populated with experts in various fields and experienced practitioners. This year’s conference no doubt promises to be the best that we have had so far.
“We have lots of eminent legal practitioners, business leaders and government dignitaries who would be attending the conference, as well as international participants coming from various parts of the globe.”
Over the years, the SBL through its activities and conferences have become established in its enforcement of global standards, not just in the legal profession, but also across the nation, with an aim to influence policies and bring development to the Nigerian economy.
The 2014 conference is slated to hold on May 25th through to the 27th, and would take place at the Atlantic Hall of the Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island Lagos. Members and intending participants have been urged to take advantage of the ongoing early bird registration, which ends April 30th.
Theodora Kio-Lawson