Nigerian Legal Minds Take Centre Stage at IBA Annual Conference in Copenhagen
Reloaded News Desk
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — Nigerian lawyers and a serving Nigerian judge are playing visible roles at the 2026 Annual Conference of the International Bar Association (IBA), as more than 5,000 legal professionals from over 130 jurisdictions gather in Copenhagen, Denmark, for one of the world’s largest international legal gatherings.
The conference, holding from October 4 to 9 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, has brought together lawyers, judges, academics, regulators, government representatives and other professionals to deliberate on issues shaping the future of law and the legal profession.
Among the Nigerians taking part in the programme are Senior Advocate of Nigeria Babatunde Ajibade, SAN; Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Court of Appeal; Professor Emilia Onyema; Mfon Usoro; Folabi Kuti, SAN; Adeola Sunmola; Adeniji Oni; Dayo Adu; Isibor Oaikhinan; and Olori Olufunmilayo Ajibola-Oluyede.
Their participation spans international arbitration, artificial intelligence, judicial ethics, legal practice, women’s leadership, labour law, food security, professional wellbeing and diversity in the legal profession.
Ajibade, Managing Partner of SPA Ajibade & Co., is particularly prominent in the conference programme. He serves as Chair of the IBA’s Section on Public and Professional Interest and is scheduled to participate in several sessions, including discussions on ethics, mental health and wellbeing in legal workplaces, leadership for young lawyers and the pressures confronting the modern legal profession.
The Nigerian judiciary is also represented.
Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, is scheduled to speak on Tuesday at a session examining the use of artificial intelligence in the courtroom.
The session will consider how courts and tribunals should approach AI while maintaining ethical standards, particularly as the technology becomes increasingly embedded in legal practice and judicial processes.
Professor Emilia Onyema, an international arbitrator and Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London, is contributing to discussions on the ethics of international arbitration and the need for a modern global framework for arbitrators.
Mfon Usoro of Paul Usoro & Co is also taking part in an internationalisation seminar designed particularly to help lawyers from developing countries participate more effectively in cross-border legal work and build relationships with practitioners in other jurisdictions.
The Nigerian contribution extends beyond commercial law.
Folabi Kuti, SAN, of Union Attorneys, Lagos, is participating in a discussion on emerging global labour and employment law trends, including cross-border investigations, whistleblowing, privilege and reputational risk.
Adeola Sunmola of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is participating in a session examining what it takes for more women to reach leadership positions in law firms, while Dayo Adu of Moroom Africa is scheduled to speak on artificial intelligence and disability in the workplace.
Adeniji Oni of Niji Oni & Co is participating in discussions on the impact of trade restrictions on global food security, bringing a Nigerian perspective to an issue increasingly connected with international trade and regulation.
Isibor Oaikhinan, a Legal Officer with the Central Bank of Nigeria and a member of the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission, is also listed as a conference speaker in a mock international commercial litigation session examining breach of contract and remedies under the CISG.
Olori Olufunmilayo Ajibola-Oluyede, a Nigerian transnational commercial lawyer and longstanding figure in international legal organisations, is participating in discussions on diversity, inclusion and artificial intelligence. Her professional roles have included leadership positions within the IBA and the American Bar Association’s International Law Section.
The scale of Nigerian participation reflects the increasingly international character of the country’s legal profession. The Nigerian Bar Association had earlier announced a special registration concession for Nigerian lawyers seeking to attend the Copenhagen conference, with the IBA offering a 40 per cent discount for eligible Nigerian delegates who registered before the July deadline.
Beyond the Nigerian delegation, the Copenhagen conference features senior international figures and discussions covering the rule of law, artificial intelligence, international arbitration, human rights, professional ethics, global commerce and the future of legal services.
For Nigeria, the significance goes beyond attendance.
The participation of Nigerian judges, advocates, arbitrators and corporate lawyers in sessions dealing with emerging global legal questions places Nigerian perspectives directly within international conversations about how courts, businesses and the legal profession should respond to rapidly changing technology, cross-border commerce and evolving professional standards.
The conference continues until October 9, with a programme of specialist sessions, networking events and a concluding Rule of Law Symposium.
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