By Juliet Ebirim

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) has announced plans for its 20th Annual International Business Law Conference, which will also mark the section’s 21st anniversary, with this year’s edition set to examine the real impact of economic and regulatory reforms across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The conference, themed “Beyond Reforms: Measuring Policy Impact,” will hold from June 8 to 10, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, according to organisers at a press briefing held recently in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Chair of the NBA-SBL, Ozofu ‘Latunde Ogiemudia, said the conference would move discussions beyond policy announcements to examining whether reforms introduced in recent years are producing measurable outcomes.

She noted that Nigeria had witnessed reforms in sectors including taxation, trade, digital payments, energy, infrastructure, mining, environmental governance, data protection and the petroleum industry, adding that the central issue now was evaluating their effectiveness.

“The critical question now is not whether reforms have been introduced, but whether they are working,” she said.

According to her, the conference will examine whether policy changes are strengthening institutions, improving investor confidence, increasing market efficiency and delivering tangible economic benefits.
Ogiemudia described the conference as a milestone for the section, marking two decades of engagement on issues at the intersection of law, business and public policy.

She said the annual gathering had evolved into a platform for dialogue involving regulators, policymakers, legal practitioners, investors and business leaders, with past editions addressing issues ranging from banking and capital markets to competition law, insolvency, technology regulation, governance, sustainability and infrastructure development.

“This year, we move decisively from reform narratives to impact assessment,” she added.
Chair of the 2026 Conference Planning Committee, Oludare Senbore, said the conference would provide a platform for critical conversations around policy implementation, investor confidence and economic sustainability.

According to him, the gathering is expected to generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s business environment and improving the effectiveness of ongoing reforms.
The press briefing featured presentations from committee members including Chair of Programme and Content, Olufunmilayo Otsembor, Chair, Fundraising, Oladele Oladunjoye, among others.

The conference has also secured support from leading law firms and corporate organisations including Aluko & Oyebode, Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe, Banwo & Ighodalo and Payaza Africa. Others include Udo, Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Greychapel, Babalakin & Co, G. Elias, TNP, Chevron and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.

NBA-SBL said it expects participation from legal professionals, regulators, policymakers and business executives from Nigeria and other countries, as discussions continue around the implementation and outcomes of ongoing economic reforms.