Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE), has welcomed more than 500 lawyers from 35 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for a groundbreaking training programme on oil and gas law. The two-day event, scheduled for July 1 and 2, is the result of a partnership between NBA-ICLE and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
This all-expenses-paid training programme marks a crucial step in enhancing the expertise of Nigerian lawyers in the energy sector. The initiative, which was first announced in May, aims to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and skills required to advise on transactions and engagements across all facets of the energy industry.
Tobenna Erojikwe had previously emphasised the strategic importance of this training, stating, “The NBA-ICLE has continued to build partnerships with various stakeholders for the purpose of improving the knowledge base of lawyers and adding value to their practices. This is one critical way that bar associations all over the world add value to their members.”
The training, taking place at a venue in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is being facilitated by experts from the Energy Law and Policy Faculty of the NBA-ICLE. It represents the first in a series of similar programmes under the NCDMB partnership, focusing initially on lawyers based in or practicing in the six states of Nigeria’s South-South zone.
The overwhelming response to this initiative, with over 500 participants from across 35 NBA branches, underscores the high demand for specialised knowledge in the oil and gas sector among Nigerian legal professionals. This turnout significantly exceeds initial expectations, highlighting the programme’s perceived value within the legal community.
As Nigeria continues to play a pivotal role in the global energy market, this training initiative is poised to strengthen the country’s legal capacity in the sector, potentially leading to increased local participation in high-value energy transactions and advisory services.
The success of this inaugural NBA-ICLE/NCDMB event in Yenagoa sets a promising precedent for future training programmes, which are expected to cover lawyers in other zones of Nigeria. As the energy landscape evolves, initiatives like this will be crucial in ensuring that Nigerian lawyers remain at the forefront of legal practice in the oil and gas industry.
