The Abia State Government has expressed readiness to co-host the 2026 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, NBA-SPIDEL.
The conference is scheduled to be held from November 9 to 13, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, disclosed this in Umuahia on Friday during a press conference heralding the conference.
Uwanna said the government of Abia State under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, is delighted to co-host the conference, noting that its theme aligns with the philosophy of the present administration.
The theme of the conference is “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development.”
He said, “For us in Abia State, justice is not merely what happens in the courtroom. It is about protecting the rights of citizens, ensuring accountability in governance and creating an environment where development thrives.”
He revealed that over 10 court houses built by the administration are ready for commissioning, while the state has made progress in electronic filing of court processes, strengthening of criminal justice institutions and legislative reforms.
According to him, Otti on October 19, 2026, assented to three landmark laws – the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 6 of 2026, the Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026, and the Abia State Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026 – as well as the Abia State Correctional Facility Law assented to last year.
He said the laws demonstrate that the rule of law is the foundation for sustainable development and assured delegates of a successful and memorable conference.
Also speaking, the Chair of the NBA-SPIDEL, Prof. Uju Agomoh, said the 2026 conference is more than a professional gathering, but an opportunity to reaffirm the responsibility of the legal profession to the society.
She said the theme reflects the conviction that law must serve as an instrument for promoting public good, strengthening democratic institutions, protecting fundamental rights and advancing sustainable development.
Prof. Agomoh stated, “Public interest law is not merely an area of legal practice, it is a commitment to ensuring that the law works for society, particularly for individuals and communities whose voices are usually marginalized.”
She said the conference will bring together legal practitioners, judges, magistrates, policy makers, academia, civil society organisations, development partners, private sector, young lawyers and the media from within and outside Nigeria to address critical questions on access to justice, judicial independence, human rights, public accountability, correctional reforms, state policing, and protection of women, children and vulnerable groups.
She commended the Abia State Government for its support, adding that hosting the conference in Abia provides an opportunity to showcase the state as a destination for intellectual engagement and a model of accountable governance.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Sir Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, said the conference will focus on practical solutions to national challenges in the public interest.
He said, “Whatever we do in this country should be aimed at the public interest. How does it affect the interest of the public? That is the critical thing.”
He disclosed that speakers expected include stakeholders from UNICEF, the International community, Kenya and Denmark, alongside leading voices in justice and development across Nigeria.
Ezenwa said the conference will feature pre-conference activities from November 9, with opening ceremony on November 10, plenary sessions, technical discussions and networking opportunities.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of Abia State and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, Mr. Paul Ogubunka, said Umuahia is ready to host over 2,000 participants.
Ogubunka listed expected dignitaries to include Governor Alex Otti as Chief Host, former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, who will deliver the keynote address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
He assured that arrangements for accommodation, security, transportation, accreditation and medical support have been put in place.
He said, “Umuahia is not just a venue. It is a statement that justice and development can also happen outside Lagos and Abuja. Abia today is a state where development is being pursued in the public interest.”
He appealed to the media to go beyond reporting the opening ceremony and to follow sessions on deaths in custody, policing, legal aid and democracy, which he said are stories that change lives.
