By Abubakar Yunusa
The Nigerian Bar Association has unveiled the theme and logo for its 2026 Annual General Conference, officially flagging off activities for the flagship gathering of Nigerian lawyers.
The conference, scheduled for August 26 to 29, 2026, will hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the theme, “Beyond Limits.”
Speaking at the unveiling in Abuja on Friday, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the theme was a call to action for lawyers and other stakeholders to move from complaints to concrete contributions to nation building.
Osigwe urged policymakers and those in authority to go beyond “mere platitudes,” stressing the need for pre-emptive actions to end kidnapping, terrorism and banditry across the country.
He said the association believed the time had come to dismantle physical, mental, political and socio-economic barriers hindering national progress, adding that the rule of law must remain central to governance.
The NBA president also announced that the National Executive Committee had approved the retention of the 2025 conference registration fees to ease the financial burden on members amid economic challenges.
According to him, the association would intensify efforts to secure partners and sponsors to reduce reliance on members’ contributions, while maintaining prudent financial management as witnessed at the 2025 conference in Enugu.
Giving an overview of the conference, the Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee, Abdul Muhammed, SAN, said the theme was deliberately chosen to challenge lawyers to rise above complacency, fear and outdated systems.
He explained that the 2026 AGC logo, symbolised by a slanted mountain, represents the possibility of surpassing perceived limits, even beyond the highest peaks of achievement.
Muhammed said the theme called on Nigerian lawyers to reimagine legal education, champion reforms, mentor young professionals and promote ethical leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Meanwhile, Osigwe also commissioned a co-working space in honour of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, SAN, in recognition of his long-standing commitment to mentoring young lawyers.
The NBA said over 80 per cent of the facility’s users were young lawyers who would enjoy free access to workspaces and facilities, describing the initiative as a major welfare intervention.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr James Onoja, represented by Alfred Ebute, commended the NBA leadership for prioritising young lawyers and urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity for professional growth.
