21/05/2014
Fashola, CJN, Dangote Set Agenda for Exemplary Governance at Business Lawyers’ Conference
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mukhtar, GCON and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON will speak at the 8th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s Section on Business Law (SBL) holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos from May 25 - 27, 2014.
According to Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, MFR, Chairman of the Section on Business Law, these eminent persons will speak around the Conference theme, ‘‘Exemplary Governance: Enhancing Economic Development in Nigeria.’’
He said Governor Fashola will give an opening address to formally kick-off the Conference on Monday, May 26th while Justice Mukhtar; Hon. Justice A. A. Phillips, the Chief Judge of Lagos State and Mr. Mohammed B. Adoke, SAN, CFR, the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice will give special addresses.
Oyebode said Lord Mark Malloch Brown, a former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Vice Chairman of Soros Investment Funds will present the second keynote address. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the first keynote speaker.
He added that teams of panellists will also speak on the theme of the Conference during plenary and breakout sessions. They include Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; Alhaji Dangote; Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director/CEO of Financial Derivatives Nigeria Limited; Mr. Larry Ettah, Group Managing Director/CEO, UAC of Nigeria Plc and Mr. Michael Ikpoki, Managing Director/CEO, MTN Nigeria.
Others are Mr. Nathan Mintah, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, 8 Miles LLP, London, England; Mr. Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, Country Manager for Nigeria, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CON, immediate Past Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc and current Council Vice – President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Dr. Doyin Salami, Director, Lagos Business School, Pan African University, Lagos
The list also includes Hon. Justice Amina A. Augie, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division; Hon. Justice M.B. Idris, a Judge of the Federal High Court; Mr. Remi Okunlola, Partner Chair, Energynvest & Chairman, Lagasa Group; and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Principal Partner, Olisa Agbakoba & Associates among others.
Speaking on the intent of the Conference, Oyebode stated that it will offer stakeholders opportunity to discuss the role of exemplary governance principles and how they impact the promotion and sustainability of transformational economic and human capital development in Nigeria.
Oyebode explained that “the theme for this year’s Conference is quite topical. This theme was derived, in part, taking into consideration the fact that the Conference is being held in the penultimate year to Nigeria’s general elections. Therefore, it presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to address the imperatives of exemplary governance as a platform for enhancing economic development in the country.”
Corroborating Oyebode, Mr. Seni Adio, Chairman of the 2014 Conference Planning Committee (CPC), stated that Tambuwal’s speech, which will kick-start the Conference, is expected to set the over-arching tone of discussions during the two days.
“It is quite fortuitous that the Speaker is also a seasoned legal practitioner. His address will be very timely as the electioneering frenzy builds-up and, hopefully, as the theme for the Conference conveys, the determinant factor as to whether we would be able to continue to attract, retain and grow indigenous and foreign investments depends almost entirely on the quality of leadership that we have in various sectors, both private and public.” Adio concluded.
The 2014 Annual Business Law Conference is the eighth edition of the summit which commenced in 2004. Since inception, the conference has remained a convergent point for policy formulators, regulators and industry practitioners to deliberate on legal issues as they relate to governance, banking, finance and insolvency, consumer protection and products liability, infrastructure and power, capital market, tax, intellectual property, mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructurings, professional ethics, and other business-related matters.
