The Nigerian legal community gathered in Lagos for the prestigious Nigerian Legal Awards 2025, where prominent religious leader Godman Akinlabi delivered a powerful challenge to legal practitioners across the nation.
A Call for Purpose-Driven Legal Practice
Godman Akinlabi, Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, used his platform at the awards ceremony to urge lawyers to transform their approach to legal practice. He emphasized that merely practicing law is insufficient for creating meaningful impact in Nigeria's justice system.
"My challenge to every lawyer is to stop just practising law and start pursuing purpose," Akinlabi declared before the distinguished gathering. He stressed the fundamental importance of maintaining fairness and equity as central principles in legal work, noting that "our work only makes a difference when it is for the good of the people."
The religious leader concluded with a compelling statement: "To build anything right, we must always find ourselves on the things that are right." This message resonated deeply with attendees who recognized the need for ethical reinforcement in the legal profession.
Celebrating Legal Excellence and Impact
Lere Fashola, convener of the Nigerian Legal Awards, explained the event's significance in recognizing lawyers' crucial contributions to solving societal challenges. He described lawyers as "a powerhouse that enables businesses across various sectors" including finance, real estate, oil and gas, and electricity.
"Lawyers are unsung heroes behind these deals," Fashola emphasized. "It's not just about interpreting laws, but enabling businesses. The gatekeepers who ensure our economy is running are important and we need to celebrate them."
The awards ceremony specifically examined the most significant deals from the past year across government, private companies, and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, the event spotlighted emerging talent through the 40 under 40 award, recognizing young professionals shaping the future of Nigeria's legal landscape.
Industry Leaders Emphasize Recognition and Excellence
Kamal Shah, Head of the panel of judges and Partner at Stephenson Harwood's Africa and India Groups, observed notable improvements in the legal sector. "We have observed an increase in the quality of the awards in terms of innovation, delivering legal services as well as meeting clients' demands," Shah reported.
Among the distinguished award recipients was Khadija Belgore-Yusuf, Executive Director and Head of Legal and Compliance at Alaro City Development. She described her recognition as "a testament that when one gives their best, there is no limit to the recognition that they get."
Michael Osilama Out, General Counsel at Zenith Bank, praised the quality of Nigerian lawyers in both practice and the corporate sector. He emphasized that recognizing legal excellence serves as encouragement for professionals to achieve even greater heights.
The event honored several prominent law firms including Aluko & Oyebode, G Elias, Odujinrin & Adefulu, among other distinguished recipients, marking a significant celebration of Nigeria's legal achievements.
