The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has unveiled speakers for its workshops and panel discussion on young lawyers, women in the justice sector and governance at its 2026 Annual Conference in Umuahia, Abia State. The conference, themed “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development,” will hold from November 9 to 13 at the International Conference Centre. A pre-conference workshop, “Young Lawyers and the Future of Public Interest Law,” will take place on November 9 from 1pm to 3pm, with former NBA First Vice-President Francis Ekwere as session chair and NBA-SPIDEL Executive Committee member Igbeaku Evulukwu as lead trainer. Other trainers are Maryam Abba of The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Chinedu Agu of CREDO Legal and Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen, identified in the programme as the winner of the 2026 International Bar Association Pro Bono Award. The workshop will cover mentorship, public interest careers, legal technology, pro bono practice and strategic networking.
A second workshop, “Women in the Justice Sector: Lawyers’ Self-Help, Mentoring and Leadership Development,” will follow from 3pm to 5pm. It will examine leadership opportunities, work-life sustainability, institutional barriers and professional support networks for women lawyers. Senior Magistrate Ngozika Alo Ngele of the Ebonyi State Judiciary will moderate the session. Trainers listed for the workshop include former Minister of Women Affairs Iyom Josephine Anenih; former Commonwealth Lawyers Association President Boma Alabi, SAN; Abia State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Ngozi Blessing Felix; and former NBA Second Vice-President Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson. Others are NBA Women Forum Chair Hauwa’ila Mohammed, NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum Chairperson Patience N. Etumudon, Emmanuela Azu of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, and NBA-SPIDEL Chair Associate Prof. Uju Agomoh.
On November 10, Kenneth Ahia, SAN, will chair a session on “Law, Governance, & Development,” scheduled for 3pm to 4.30pm. The panel comprises Boma Alabi, SAN; Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson; former NBA-SPIDEL Vice-Chairman Ikhide Ehighelua, SAN; Akingbolahan Adeniran of the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice; and UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Godwin Odo. The sessions will bring questions of professional development, inclusion and governance into the conference’s wider discussion on advancing justice and development. Registration is available at app.nbaspidel.ng.
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