The Yenagoa branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has announced that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and renowned African constitutional lawyer Prof. PLO Lumumba will be among the prominent figures attending its 2026 Law Week. The event is scheduled to take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Keynote Address and Plenary Session
President Jonathan will serve as the Chairman of the Law Week Plenary Session, while Prof. Lumumba is expected to deliver the keynote address on the topic 'Sustainable National Assets Protection In Africa: Opportunities, Risks And Regulatory Pathways'. The plenary session will conclude the week's activities on Friday next week.
Selection of Prof. Lumumba
According to the Chairman of the Yenagoa NBA branch, Clement Kekemeke, Prof. Lumumba was chosen for his reputation as a foremost African constitutional lawyer, his advocacy for transparency in governance, his expertise in the Law of the Sea, and his role as an anti-corruption advocate. Kekemeke stated, 'His Pan-African perspective brings a continental dimension to the discourse, enabling a comparative and forward-looking analysis of governance, regulatory compliance, and public accountability across Africa. His intellectual depth and oratory prowess position him to provoke critical thinking, inspire reform-oriented dialogue, and set the tone for an engaging panel session.'
Theme: 'Securing The Future'
Kekemeke explained that this year's theme, 'Securing The Future', was deliberately chosen to issue a clear call to responsibility within the legal profession. He emphasized that the theme affirms that the future of society must be consciously safeguarded through law, discipline, and principled action. 'It recognizes lawyers as custodians of constitutional order, guardians of liberty, and architects of institutional stability. At a time when governance structures, public trust, and democratic institutions are under mounting strain, the theme calls upon the Bar to transcend technical practice and embrace its role as an active steward of society; ensuring that our common wealth and national pride are protected for the future through justice, accountability, and the rule of law as the bedrock of collective progress for a productive Nigeria,' he added.
Dinner and Social Responsibility
The Chairman also highlighted that this year's dinner will be a top-tier event, providing an evening for unwinding, relaxation, networking, knowledge-sharing, and interaction with thought leaders, captains of industry, fellow legal minds, and other luminaries. As part of the Law Week programme and in keeping with social responsibility, the branch will hold a legal clinic in Yenagoa in collaboration with the Yenagoa-Ovom Community, and will also visit Martha's Home for the Elderly. Kekemeke noted, 'This is to show that Law Week comprises events that have both direct and indirect impact on every segment of society.'
Historical Context
Kekemeke further explained that Law Week has a storied history in Nigeria, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, when it was created to promote the rule of law, justice, and human rights, and to guarantee national unity, reconciliation, and human rights protection following the Nigerian Civil War.
