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The 19th Annual International Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) held in Lagos between 2nd – 4th July 2025 brought together over a thousand delegates in a call for the legal profession to take an active role in shaping Nigeria’s future in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The three-day conference, themed “The Future of Business Law in an Intelligence Age,” addressed the profound impact of AI, data ecosystems, and digital transformation on business and society.
Opening the event, NBA-SBL Chair, Mrs. Ozofu ’Latunde Ogiemudia, stressed that lawyers must move from being passive observers of technological change to architects of responsive and adaptive legal frameworks. “We cannot afford to remain on the sidelines,” she said. “This moment demands that we be architects of frameworks that embrace innovation without sacrificing our principles.”
A highlight of the conference was the keynote address by His Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, CON, PhD, who delivered a thought-provoking speech warning of the ethical challenges that accompany technological advancement. “Bias can now be automated. Discrimination scaled. Surveillance rebranded as innovation,” he cautioned. “As lawyers, you must interrogate not only what is legal but what is just.”
He called on the legal profession to adapt quickly, embrace technological tools, and lead efforts to craft laws that protect rights while enabling economic growth. He also challenged legal educators to rethink how they train lawyers for a world transformed by AI, data privacy concerns, and cybersecurity threats.
Over the course of the conference, delegates participated in plenary sessions, breakout sessions, fireside chats, and masterclasses exploring the intersection of law, technology, and business. Sessions examined regulatory challenges in fintech, healthcare innovation, manufacturing, and entertainment, while promoting collaboration across industries and generations.
In one of such plenary sessions, Mrs. Yemisi Diya-Salawu, Director of Legal at IHS Towers, identified the lack of dedicated courts for fintech and digital innovation as a critical bottleneck, which led lawyers to spend valuable time educating judges and regulators. She advocated for “dedicated legal frameworks and institutions that understand the nuances of digital infrastructure.”
Oswald Guobadia, Managing Founder of DigitA, highlighted the regulatory misalignment between key agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), describing it as a “process problem” that leads to confusion and loss of market value.
Uzoma Dozie, founder of Sparkle, stressed that trust, transparency, and simplicity must underpin technology adoption, especially in fintech. “If customers don’t trust us, they won’t share data. That’s why transparency is not just a regulatory requirement but a strategic advantage,” he said.
International voices also shaped the conference. Ms. Stephanie Brown of the Law Society in England underscored the importance of legal institutions not just keeping pace with technological change but proactively advocating for reform and ethical standards.
Participants included senior advocates, young lawyers, regulators, public servants, entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives, reflecting the broad relevance of the issues discussed.
Mrs. Ogiemudia also expressed gratitude to the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the 2025 Conference Planning Committee led by Ms. Solape Peters and Mr. Oludare Senbore, sponsors, partners, and the many resource persons who contributed to the event’s success. “This conference is not just about the future of business law,” Mrs. Ogiemudia said. “It is about the future of business itself.”
As the conference closed, attendees departed with a renewed sense of purpose to ensure that Nigeria’s legal community leads with integrity, courage, and clarity in navigating the opportunities and challenges of the intelligence age.
