The highly anticipated Legal Tech Bro (LTB) Debates 2025 took center stage at CivicHive, Yaba, sparking critical conversations on artificial intelligence (AI) and its legal implications in the digital space.
The debate, themed “AI Agents Should Be Treated as Legal Entities with Rights and Responsibilities on Social Media,” concluded with Obadimeji David, a 400-level Computer Science student at Lagos State University (LASU), emerging as the winner.
The LTB Debates, convened by Oyindolapo Olusesi, popularly known as the “Legal Tech Bro,” began as a social media-driven initiative to engage young minds in discussions on pressing societal issues.
Olusesi, reflecting on the inspiration behind the debate, revealed that the idea was conceived during his research in Nairobi last year on the impact of social media on youth and society.
“One of the things people think is that social media only affects concentration levels or is merely for entertainment. But in reality, social media has been used for a diverse set of things—building economic portfolios, enhancing social lives, and even shaping mental health and political perspectives,” he stated.
The competition featured four rigorous stages, starting with 130 written submissions. This was narrowed down to 30 video entries, then 20 participants who debated live on X, and subsequently 12 contestants in the preliminary round. The final eight competitors battled it out in the semi-finals before the top two contenders advanced to the final round. Notably, the debates were held on X (formerly Twitter) to create an engaging social media town hall experience.
Obadimeji David expressed his excitement at clinching the title, emphasising his passion for debating and the challenges he overcame to prepare for the competition.
“I feel very excited. I have been debating for quite a while, and I put so much effort into this. It was worth it,” he said. “I received the topic while juggling exams and projects as a final-year student. It was quite tasking, but I love challenges. Being a member of the Lagos State Debate Society in my school helped me tremendously.”
He also praised the organisers for providing a platform that nurtures intellectual discourse. “I want to say a very big thank you to the organizers. This is an opportunity I’ve been waiting for my whole life. At some point, I told myself I would do something like this, and now it’s a reality.”
Jones Ayuwo, Head of Legal at a prominent payments company and one of the debate judges, highlighted the criteria used in evaluating participants.
“We focused on the quality of research, the depth of content, delivery, speech organisation, and rebuttals,” Ayuwo stated. He also stressed the importance of government and corporate organisations supporting such initiatives, especially given the relevance of AI in today’s world.
“The government and even corporate bodies can step in. AI is a big topic, and if there are incentives, more youths will be motivated to engage in such discussions in the future.”
Abdulganiy Abdulganiy, a legal practitioner at Olaniwun Ajayi LP and the debate’s runner-up, shared his appreciation for the experience despite not winning.
“The initiative exposed me to so many perspectives. Debating helps you understand other people’s ideas and opinions,” he said.
With AI becoming a critical subject in legal and technological discourse, the LTB Debates 2025 has set a precedent for engaging young intellectuals in discussions that shape policy and societal development. Participants and judges alike emphasised the need for more institutional support to expand such opportunities, ensuring that debates on vital global issues continue to thrive.
