The eagerly awaited 5th SBL Annual Business Law Conference is almost here. From the 5th to 9th of April 2010, we will treat you to a spectacular conference in intellectual contents, networking opportunities, mentoring and relaxation opportunities. As is the custom, SBL has assembled an array of experts from the legal profession, policy makers, regulators, finance, entrepreneurs and as a bonus - scientists in the medical and engineering fields – all affected in one way or the other by the theme of the Conference.
The Conference theme: “Regulating the Business Environment in Emerging Markets” appropriately focuses on the hottest issue of global significance in the past two years which has impacted on the world’s economies whether developed, emerging or least developed. The theme and the structure of the Conference examines how regulations have impacted the global business environment and how regulations can be developed and implemented in a manner that promotes economic development with particular focus on Africa. The theme is deliberately framed to accommodate emerging markets generally, in response to requests from delegates from other African countries who regularly attend our conferences given that the quality of SBL conferences continues to attract delegates beyond our shores.
It is now the practice for Section on Business Law conferences to be opened by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and this year’s will be no different. We expect to have a Prime Minister from one of the Southern African countries deliver the keynote address. There will be the usual plenary sessions for general interest discourse weaved around the conference theme. The first plenary session will be on “Business Environment in Post-Independent Africa”. Our very senior colleague and entrepreneur Mr Goodie Ibru has graciously agreed to chair the session. Seasoned and experienced Nigerians, plus at least two speakers from a multilateral agency with widely acknowledged institutional knowledge on the business environment in Africa will speak from a continental perspective against the backdrop of international best practices. The topic for our Showcase Session, also in plenary, on day 4 is “Regulating the Business Environment: Too Little or Too Much?” This session will bring together the regulator and the regulated in a panel format for a frank discussion on how regulations and the manner of implementation impacts on their respective business operations. We will have persons from different sectors of the economy such as Power, Energy, Manufacturing, Finance and Legal speak on this topic. Mr Atedo Peterside, a friend of SBL and a finance expert will chair this session, the Scientist/Entrepreneur, Prof Bart Nnaji of Geometric Power Limited, Dr Tunde Ogowewo of Kings College, London, Dr Fidelis Oditah SAN and Mr Francis Brockholes of White and Case will constitute the Panel. A couple more names not yet confirmed will be in the panel as well.
Of course we have the breakout sessions dedicated to the various practice areas including arbitration, transportation, capital markets, communication, taxation, aviation, practice development, information technology, travel, tourism and hospitality, public private partnership, environment, energy, procurement law and practice, competition and corporate counsel. There is something for everyone as the programme is organized such that delegates can attend more than one practice session. The committee chairs and conference organizing committee have worked very hard to secure both Nigerian and foreign experts with deep knowledge and expertise in the area of legal practice which they are to speak on. We have a session for the British-Nigeria Law Forum with the theme “Enforcement of Foreign Judgements and Regulating Financial Services”. The session will be chaired by Mrs Mariam Uwais. The full Conference programme will be posted on our website any day this week so you could plan ahead on how to make the most of the conference.
Do not miss the popular health segment. The speakers, all Consultants and a couple of professors will educate us on breast cancer, cervical cancer and not to be accused of gender bias, they will also speak on prostrate cancer, kidney care and sudden cardiac death. One of the new introductions in this Conference is a dedicated session for SBL Young Lawyers Forum which is structured to offer mentoring opportunities and discussions on partners’ expectations from young lawyers. “Knowledge Gap in the Legal Profession” is the Hot Topic for this Conference. The issue of quality of legal education is of serious concern to both the supply and demand sides of legal services. The session will feature representatives of all key stakeholders in legal education in Nigeria. We will have among the speakers, university law lecturers, law school lecturers, law firms, centre for law and business with Dr Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of the Nigerian Committee of Pro-Chancellors as the Session chair.
Apart from the intellectual menu, we have social events and exhibitions which will be for all delegates and their companions. As the 5th SBL Conference falls on the year Nigeria will mark its 50th independence anniversary, the decor and daily exhibitions at the Conference venue will feature Nigeria’s rich arts and culture in both films and artworks. Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja with its large foyer provides an excellent and ample space for the exhibitions. Be sure to feed your eyes and appreciate Nigeria throughout the conference. We will treat our delegates on the evening of day 2 to a spectacular cultural evening featuring the Ekemini Cultural Troupe and the Mona Dance School catalogue of songs, dance and dance-drama depicting African culture. The theme for the closing ceremony on day 4 is “Keeping Faith With Africa”. We really must keep hope alive and not give up on our dear country/continent, and apart from the Chairman’s Dinner, the activities planned for that night are best experienced. Be there!
Another highlight of the Conference will be the public presentation a book published by the SBL. The book titled: Developments in Business Law – Series One, is a compilation of all the papers presented in the last four conferences and promises to be a useful research resource. We will round up the 5th SBL Business Conference with the 2010 BG OIL/SBL Golf Tournament at the IBB Golf Course. I am not a golfer but will lead fans to cheer our beloved Chairman George Etomi to victory.
SBL has a team of very dedicated Conference Organizing Committee members who as usual have sacrificed their time to work towards a very successful conference. The SBL Chair and I are very proud of the team, as we are of our very senior colleagues who are working behind the scenes aside from making financial contributions. Pre-conference registration is ongoing in Abuja and Lagos as well as online. Please register early so that you can settle down to enjoy the Welcome Cocktail on Monday 5th April.
Hope to see you at the conference!
Mfon Ekong Usoro
Conference Chairperson
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March 11, 2010 at 12:02 pm