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The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ogbomoso Branch held its 3rd Annual Law Week from 28th November to 3rd December 2023.
The annual event, which was last held in 2014, was indeed a remarkable and momentous gathering, and stands unique as it includes the maiden edition of Honourable Justice Atilade Ojo (Rtd) Annual Lecture Series which is the first of its kind for the Branch — which has been described as one of the most vibrant and second largest bar in Oyo state.
Congratulations to Omotayo Olatunbosun the youngest female chairperson along with her team of executives who were inaugurated on the 29th June, 2023, for this great feat.
Chronicle of Activities
On Tuesday, 28th November, the Law Week was heralded by health walk, health sensitisation and games.
The health walk took off from the Soun Ogunlola Hall and halted at the High Court, Oke Ado. There were also aerobic sessions and games.
The members of the Branch received important health tips from medical experts.
Wednesday, 29th November, 2023: Maiden Edition of Hon. Justice Atilade Ojo (Rtd) Annual Lecture Series.(Day 1)
Topic: Law, Social Media and the Advent of Artificial Intelligence.
The Chairperson of the NBA Ogbomoso Omotayo Olatunbosun, Esq. in her opening speech, expressed appreciation to the entire members of the Branch and all its supporting pillars for their unwavering commitment to the cause of bar. Mrs. Olatunbosun, who is the youngest female chairperson the NBA Ogbomoso has ever produced, said that one of the ways her administration is implementing some of its aspirations and objectives is the rebranding of the bar with a befitting alias “The Valiant Bar.”
In his paper titled ‘Corruption, Society and the Legal Profession: Whither the Bar?, Dr. M.N.O. Olopade, SAN FCArb espoused and differentiated between “corruption” and “perception of corruption” in the legal profession. The Learned Silk submitted that almost all societal maladies can be linked to the virus of corruption. “The ills are so pervasive that there is hardly any sector that is free from the plague,” he said. He called for a better placed judiciary, a more proactive NBA to set out to tackle corruption head long.
In addition, Dr. Olopade,SAN, commended the Olatunbosun led administration of the NBA Ogbomoso Branch for its dedication to the cause of justice and the rule of law The full paper can be found here
In his paper titled ‘Social and Legal Issues of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence’ Mr Sam Kargbo, SAN emphasised how technology has impacted all forms of content creation. He asserted that “the combination of AI and social media is proving to be greatly beneficial for businesses. The future is bright and exciting for any business that is harnessing AI tools.” Mr. Kargbo added that lawyers need to embrace the emerging new social and technological order that has the capacity to revolutionize the world in a whole new dimension for human advancement. Read full paper here.
Mr Akeem O. Aponmade, Esq. delivered insights on the topic: Protecting Intellectual Property Rights, Image Rights, and Data Privacy Rights in the Age of Social Media. He explored the interplay between these rights and the impact of social media, delving into the challenges, legal frameworks, and ethical dimensions that define the contemporary landscape. Mr Aponmade concluded by advocating for collaborative efforts among various stakeholders to enhance best practices, and develop frameworks that address the challenges associated with intellectual property, image rights, and data privacy in the age of social media. Read full paper here.
Thursday, 30th December, 2023: Maiden Edition of Hon. Justice Atilade Ojo (Rtd) Annual Lecture Series.(Day 2)
Yusuf Ali, SAN presented a paper through his representative, Dr. Azeezat Adebayo, titled ‘Law, Social Media and the Advent Artificial Intelligence.’ The paper discussed Artificial Intelligence in the context of its social media application and the threats of social media and artificial intelligence. He submitted that law firms leverage on AI-powered tools in their workflows to streamline their processes, save time and money, and make better decisions for their clients. Furthermore, he asserted that the “use of AI will play increasingly significant role in the delivery of legal services.” Full paper can be found here.
On Friday, 1st December, 2023(1:00pm) members of the Branch attended a Jumat Service at the LAUTECH Central Mosque in commemoration of the Law Week
At 5:00pm, the Dinner/Award Night took place at the Elisam Event Centre, Aroje Area, Ogbomoso. The glamorous evening provided the stage for achievement recognition. The dinner was engaging and past Charman of NBA Ilorin Branch, Mr Mobolaji Ojibara who delivered the lecture spoke on self development for lawyers. He noted that putting in the effort to grow will help stay on top of industry changes, and reap huge benefits for both one’s practice and personal life.
The NBA Ogbomoso Branch honoured several individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the legal profession and the bar, while also thanking their supporting pillars.
During the sessions, there was a collective reflection on artificial intelligence and its a as integral to our vision for a better nation. The conversations ignited further recognition of how technology can help lawyers become empowered, and how it can profoundly shape law practice progress, justice reform and societal transformation.
Sunday, 3rd December, 2023, a Thanksgiving Service was held at the Living faith Church, Isale General, Ogbomoso.
When we think of the NBA Ogbomoso Branch(“The Valiant Bar”) Law Week, the sheer magnitude of the entire experience, we are left in awe of how much we can achieve when we decide to push the boundaries of our limitations. The aim was to advance our collective vision of developing law practice, the bar, and shape a better future, and we believe that this was achieved and much more. It’s now up to all and sundry to carry forward and build upon the energy and learning we sparked together in Ogbomoso.
