The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) has called for a deeper assessment of Nigeria’s recent economic reforms, saying policy implementation must translate into measurable improvements in investor confidence, business growth and living conditions for Nigerians.
Speaking at the press conference for its 20th Annual International Business Law Conference held in Lagos on Wednesday, officials of the section said the conference was designed to move conversations beyond policy directives to evaluating their real economic impact.
Ozofu ‘Latunde Ogiemudia, Chair of the NBA-SBL, said the theme of the 2026 conference, ‘Beyond Reforms: Measuring Policy Impact,’ was chosen in response to the significant reforms introduced by the government in recent years.
According to her, major reforms such as the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange market unification and ongoing tax reforms have fundamentally reshaped Nigeria’s economic landscape.
However, she stressed that the critical issue now is whether those reforms are producing tangible outcomes for businesses and citizens.
“This year’s conference is a milestone. It marks twenty years of sustained engagement at the intersection of law, business and public policy. Over two decades, this conference has grown into one of the most credible platforms for serious commercial and policy conversations in Nigeria and across the continent,” Ogiemudia said.
Ogiemudia explained that the conference would assess reforms from the perspective of business sustainability, investment attractiveness and economic inclusion.
According to her, discussions would focus on whether the reforms are increasing investor confidence, improving livelihoods, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), attracting domestic and foreign investments, and preparing Nigeria’s youthful population for the digital economy.
“It is one thing to implement reforms, but it is another thing to determine whether those reforms are having the desired impact,” Ogiemudia said.
She also emphasised the need to expand economic growth and urbanisation beyond traditional commercial centres such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Ogiemudia highlighted the NBA-SBL’s longstanding collaboration with government institutions and regulators in shaping business and commercial laws in Nigeria.
She said the section participated in the Nigerian National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable alongside the National Assembly and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, contributing to the drafting and passage of key legislation such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 and the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.
The section has also worked with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council on the Business Facilitation Act 2023 and contributed to policy discussions surrounding the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Similarly, Oludare Senbore said the section intends to use the conference as a platform to analyse existing reforms and generate practical recommendations for policymakers.
According to him, the NBA-SBL is not interested in “mere talk shows,” but in producing actionable outcomes capable of improving Nigeria’s business environment.
“Our expectation from the conference is to look at the reforms the government has implemented, critique those reforms, and identify what changes need to be made,” he said.
Senbore said that participants, including lawyers, regulators, corporate executives, in-house counsel and policymakers, would examine whether existing reforms are sufficient to restore investor confidence and stimulate economic growth.
He said the conference would also evaluate policy implementation gaps and explore ways the government can improve the operating environment for businesses.
On the influence of the NBA-SBL on public policy, Senbore acknowledged that not every recommendation made by the section is adopted by the government.
However, he maintained that the role of the section is to convene experts, facilitate policy conversations and support implementation where necessary.
“We cannot force our ideas on government, but we can provide expert guidance and assist policymakers in implementing reforms,” he said.
Senbore further highlighted the growing scale and influence of the NBA-SBL conference, noting that it has evolved from a one-day event into a multi-day national platform featuring regional conferences, masterclasses and professional training sessions.
According to him, the conference now attracts broad participation from government agencies, multinational companies, international law firms and development institutions.
Headline sponsors supporting the conference include Aluko & Oyebode, Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe, Banwo & Ighodalo and Payaza Africa. Titanium sponsors include Udo, Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Greychapel, Babalakin & Co, G. Elias, TNP, Chevron and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, as well as international firms, which include Clifford Chance and DLA Piper.
The 2026 conference will hold from June 8 to 10, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, where regulators, policymakers, business leaders, practitioners and subject-matter experts will examine the effectiveness of existing reforms and consider what must change to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness.