The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, has launched its 2025 Law Week with a strong call for an ethical revival in Nigeria’s legal profession. Themed “Rescuing the Legal Profession: Charting a Sustainable Future,” this year’s event focuses on ethical integrity, amidst rising concerns over diminishing professionalism and public confidence in the justice system.

Speaking at a pre-event press briefing, the branch Chairman, Mr. Olakunle Akanbi, emphasised that the theme was a deliberate response to the erosion of values within the legal community. “We cannot build a credible justice system on shaky moral foundations,” he said. “This year’s Law Week is not just a celebration; it is a soul-searching mission — a call to conscience for every legal practitioner.”

Echoing this, Planning Committee Chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Enebili (SAN), noted that the profession stands at a crossroads. “We are navigating a turbulent era, not only as a country but within the legal ecosystem itself,” he said.

“This theme reminds us of the nobility of our calling and the responsibility we owe to justice, society, and posterity.”

The week-long programme, taking place from Friday with Just service and from Sunday, 13 July to Thursday, 17 July, 2025, is thoughtfully structured to blend reflection, learning, and celebration.

It will open with a Thanksgiving service, an opportunity to reconnect with the moral and spiritual foundations of justice, followed by a welcome cocktail at the NBA Centre in Ikeja.

On Tuesday, 15 July, a high-level plenary session will take place at the Marriott Hotel, with EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede delivering the keynote speech. The session will examine the role of integrity in restoring public confidence in the legal system. A special “Young Lawyers’ Session,” themed “Walking Steadily to the Top,” will highlight 30 trailblazers redefining success through character beyond the courtroom.

That evening, the Chairman’s Dinner will celebrate Chief (Mrs.) Remi Makajuola for her steadfast support to the legal community, exemplifying service and ethical leadership.

Wednesday’s highlights include a Business Law Forum featuring Prof. Akinyemi Fagbohun and a Bar and Bench Forum — a space for candid dialogue between judges and advocates on justice delivery. Esteemed jurists such as Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (rtd.), Justice Habeeb Abiru (JCA), and former Lagos Attorney-General Mr. Ade Ipaye will lead discussions on institutional accountability.

On Thursday, 17 July, the grand finale, an Academia Session, will feature keynote speaker Prof. Kemi Phinero (SAN), with a distinguished panel including global legal experts like Prof. Emeka Anyaoku (Canada), Mrs. Badejo-Kusanya, and Dr. Mfon Usoro (China). Discussions will centre on ethics in legal education and transnational standards of professional conduct.

The Law Week also serves as a reminder of the branch’s legacy of excellence, having produced icons such as the late Ranti Daudu (SAN), renowned for his principled stance on human rights and the rule of law.

Organisers say the event is more than symbolic; it is an ethical blueprint for the future. “We want to raise the bar not just with words but with action,” said one committee member. “Our aim is to institutionalise ethics as the core identity of the Nigerian Bar. This is our legacy — the brand of the greats.”

As Nigeria’s legal profession grapples with public scepticism and internal challenges, the NBA Ikeja Branch’s Law Week sends a clear message: the path to reform begins with a return to ethical values and the courage to uphold them.