The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, has proposed sweeping reforms to the organisation of the Association’s Annual General Conference (AGC), calling for a more efficient, cost-effective and dignified conference experience for Nigerian lawyers.
The proposals were contained in a 22-page position paper presented to the NBA President, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, during a strategic meeting at the NBA National Secretariat, Abuja, on the 14th of October, 2026. The document was presented by the Branch Chairman, Mr. Adeniyi Quadri, and the Branch Secretary, Amòfin Ayodeji Olabiwonnu, in the presence of other national officers of the Association.
Titled “Position Paper on the Organisation of the NBA Annual General Conference: Towards a More Efficient, Dignified, Inclusive and World-Class Conference Experience,” the document identifies areas requiring urgent attention, including the President’s Cup football tournament, conference feeding arrangements, selection of guest speakers and entertainers, and the management of exhibition spaces.
On the President’s Cup, NBA Ikeja proposed replacing the existing tournament arrangement with regional qualifiers, preferably structured along the NBA’s recognised zones. Under the proposal, only four qualifying teams would travel to the host city for the semi-finals, third-place match and final during the main conference. The Branch argued that the arrangement would reduce travel and accommodation expenses, minimise disruption to lawyers’ professional engagements and improve players’ welfare.
The Branch also called for an overhaul of conference feeding arrangements, proposing the engagement of established food vendors and the introduction of a voucher-based system. Registered conferees would be able to redeem their meal entitlements at designated food cabins or approved outlets, with digital validation and multiple redemption points to eliminate the long queues and congestion often associated with conference meals.
In another significant recommendation, NBA Ikeja urged stricter reputational scrutiny of prominent non-lawyer speakers, entertainers and celebrity guests invited to the AGC. It proposed appropriate background checks and presidential approval of such invitations to ensure that individuals given prominent conference platforms reflect the values, dignity and institutional standing of the legal profession.
The position paper further recommends improvements in the management of conference markets and exhibition stands, alongside better post-conference evaluation, record-keeping and communiqué preparation.
Receiving the document, the NBA President commended the Ikeja Branch for taking a proactive approach to institutional reform and translating members’ concerns into practical recommendations. She assured the delegation that the proposals would be carefully studied and given serious consideration.
The Branch maintained that the reforms were intended to strengthen the AGC as the Association’s flagship gathering while ensuring that future conferences deliver greater value, convenience and professional satisfaction to participating lawyers.
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