S.P.A. Ajibade & Co. has announced that Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, immediate past Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will deliver the keynote address at the 18th Annual Business Luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, 11th December 2025, at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. The theme for this year’s edition, “Rebuilding Public Trust in the Nigerian Justice System: Responsibilities of the Bar, the Bench, and the Society,” reflects a growing national concern over declining public confidence in justice institutions and the urgent need for systemic renewal.
Professor Osinbajo’s selection as keynote speaker underscores the depth and importance of the conversation. His influence on Nigeria’s justice architecture spans more than three decades. As Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, he led far-reaching judicial reforms that strengthened institutions, modernized legal processes, and became a reference point for states across Nigeria. Before entering public service, he was a Professor of Public Law at the University of Lagos, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a founding partner of SimmonsCooper Partners, one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial law firms.
His international engagements further deepen his credibility. He served in the Justice Sector of the UN Mission in Somalia and was a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Committee on the Conduct and Discipline of Peacekeeping Forces. He also served as Ethics Advisor to the board of the African Development Bank and as an independent director of CITIBANK Nigeria.
During his two terms as Vice President from 2015 to 2023, Professor Osinbajo chaired the National Economic Council and was instrumental in the design and implementation of several national policy frameworks. He played central roles in economic reform, social investment, human capital development, digital innovation, creative economy expansion, climate policy, and energy transition. He led the Inter-Ministerial Energy Transition Implementation Working Group responsible for the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP) 2022, and guided the formulation of three major national development plans. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the Economic Sustainability Plan, remains a widely acknowledged stabilizing intervention.
Since leaving office, Professor Osinbajo has continued to shape global and continental conversations. He serves as Board Chair of the Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A), is a member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Council, and acts as Guardian for the UNDP-led Africa Innovation Foundation (timbuktoo). He founded the North East Children’s Trust to support vulnerable children affected by insurgency and also established Future Perspectives and Climate Positive, two organizations driving innovation and climate-focused solutions across Africa. He is a member of the African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative (ALDRI), working alongside former African Heads of State to address the continent’s escalating sovereign debt challenges.
This year’s luncheon will convene thought leaders from the Bar, the Bench, academia, civil society, government, and the private sector to interrogate the roots of public distrust in Nigeria’s justice system and explore actionable pathways to restore integrity, fairness, and public legitimacy. With Professor Osinbajo delivering the keynote address, the event promises deep, forward-looking insights at a moment when Nigeria is urgently seeking institutional rebirth.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 11th December 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos
Registration: luncheon.spaajibade.com
S.P.A. Ajibade & Co.’s Annual Business Luncheon remains one of the most respected platforms for high-level dialogue on law, policy, and institutional reform in Nigeria, and this year’s edition is poised to be one of the most impactful yet.
