At the opening of the NBA Yola Branch Law Week in Yola, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, delivered a thought-provoking address calling on lawyers and the justice sector to look beyond present realities and deliberately prepare for the future. Speaking on the theme of innovation, adaptation and professional relevance, he reflected on the evolution of legal practice, warned against complacency in the face of rapid societal and technological change, and emphasised the urgent need for reforms that will strengthen the judiciary, enhance efficiency, and preserve the dignity of the legal profession.
Read Full Statement Below;
“Beyond the Present: Innovation, Adaptation and the Future of Our Profession”
Every generation of lawyers inherits a profession shaped by the choices of those before it. In Yola today, at the opening of the NBA Yola Branch Law Week themed “Beyond the Present: Evolution of a State, the Justice Sector and Lawyers,” I was reminded that our greatest responsibility is not merely to preserve the law as we met it, but to prepare it for the realities ahead.
I reflected on how far our profession, and society itself, has come. There was a time when simply owning a land line distinguished a lawyer, long before smartphones became part of everyday life. There was also a time when fax machines represented cutting-edge communication, and when presenting a cheque for an account domiciled in Yola required long-distance travel. These experiences remind us that change has always been with us, even when it feels uncomfortable.
As societies evolve, the practice of law must evolve alongside them. The question we must honestly ask ourselves is how ready we are for change. Comfort with the present, without a willingness to innovate, often leads to stagnation and, eventually, irrelevance.
I emphasised the urgent need for our judiciary to embrace innovation, particularly through technology-driven processes such as e-filing and digital court systems. I shared the story of Nokia, once a global leader, which lost relevance not because it failed outright, but because it could not adapt quickly enough. The lesson is clear: even strong institutions falter when they fail to respond to changing times.
Our profession is already witnessing this evolution, particularly in the transition from hardcopy law reports to online law reporting systems. Lawyers must consciously align with these changes if we are to remain effective and relevant.
I also urged lawyers to embrace innovation, drawing inspiration from Lord Denning’s words in Parker v. Parker, that the law would remain stagnant if we refuse to act simply because something has never been done before. Continuous professional development is no longer optional. It is essential for competence, confidence, and growth in today’s legal landscape.
Using a literary illustration from Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, I reflected on Unoka’s failure to thrive because he farmed on exhausted land. The lesson is instructive. Lawyers who remain permanently within their comfort zones, without adapting to new realities, should not expect different results. A justice system that delivers judgments disconnected from contemporary realities poses serious challenges to society and undermines public confidence.
I remain optimistic that Nigeria can achieve meaningful progress if we deliberately restructure our justice system to save time and resources. Virtual hearings, effective case scheduling, and e-filing must become institutional norms, supported by deliberate investment in infrastructure.
Innovation must also go hand in hand with professionalism. Lawyers must continually improve themselves and comply with the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order. Undercutting professional fees ultimately diminishes the dignity and sustainability of our profession.
Beyond technology, I expressed concern about the growing need for consistency and predictability in judicial decisions. Conflicting judgments weaken confidence in the justice system and make it difficult for lawyers to properly advise their clients, particularly in politically sensitive matters. Our courts must evolve in ways that strengthen coherence and certainty in the law.
If we, as lawyers and judges, undermine our profession through complacency or internal decay, we risk destroying the very institution we seek to serve. Instead, we must commit ourselves to building a vibrant and respected profession that commands pride of place in society.
The world is changing rapidly. Beyond the present lies our responsibility to plan for the future. International best practices must move beyond rhetoric and be firmly institutionalised if our justice system is to truly work for the people.
I congratulate the leadership and members of the NBA Yola Branch on the successful commencement of their Law Week. I am confident that the conversations will meaningfully advance our profession.
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President, Nigerian Bar Association
