The highly anticipated Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Annual Conference will kick off today in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Delegates have started arriving Ibadan from all parts of the country for the conference.
While some delegates flew to Lagos to connect transportation to Ibadan, others flew directly to Ibadan Airport. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has mobilised fully air-conditioned vehicles to convey delegates to their respective hotels from the Ibadan Airport. This service will be available at 4 pm today when the first flight is expected to touch down at the airport.
The Conference Planning Committee (CPC) led by fiery human rights activist, Mr. Monday Ubani has already taken delivery of all conference materials. Delegates arriving today will collect their conference materials from the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, NBA Ibadan Branch at Iyaganku, Ibadan between 1 pm and 5 pm. Collection of conference materials will continue on Monday and Tuesday at Felicia Hall of the Jogor Centre, by Liberty Road, Ibadan from 9 am to 5 pm. For enquiries, please call 09040000079.
Meanwhile, the Welcome Party by the affable Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola will kick off from 6 pm today at the NBA Ibadan Branch Bar Centre.
This will set the stage and put the delegates in the right mood for the blockbuster Opening Ceremony and the eagerly awaited plenary starting from 9 am tomorrow at the world-class Jogor Centre.
Registration is still ongoing for the conference which has a surfeit of A-List speakers already committed to storm Ibadan.
According to a statement by the Head of Media & Publicity Sub-committee, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke, a surfeit of A-List speakers have confirmed participation in the hybrid conference.
At least three leading Governors have assured that they would attend the conference in person, including Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Bauchi State Governor, Dr. Bala Mohammed, and the host Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde (FNSE) who had assured delegates of a “very good experience” while in Ibadan.
Aside from speakers from the superior courts of record and key state actors such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa and INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu who are expected at the conference, virtually all leading human rights activists in Nigeria are set to hit Ibadan from Monday. These include Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Aisha Yesufu, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mr. Chino Obiagwu (SAN), Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), Mr. Deji Adeyanju and Mr. Jiti Ogunye, to name a few. Also poised to storm Ibadan are Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Senator Dino Melaye among others.
The conference is designed as a hybrid event, as delegates can attend in-person or join virtually through encrypted, owner-only links. To register, click https://nbaspidel.ng/nba-spidel-conference/. For the full conference programme, click https://nbaspidel.ng/conference-programme/. For other details on the conference, click here https://nbaspidel.ng/. Please call 0806-956-6120 for enquiries.
It is recalled that NBA-SPIDEL has witnessed spectacular rebirth through the uncommon leadership of ist Council Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN. The Ibadan conference is coming on the heels of another stellar outing in Aba, Abia State in November 2019. As Ananaba bows out after the conference, a new set of Executive Committee is poised to take the mantle of leadership.