LAGOS – The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) will hold the 19th Annual Business Law Conference from July 2 to 4, 2024, at Harbour Point on Victoria Island in Lagos. The upcoming conference, “The Future of Business Law in an Intelligence Age,” will bring together top legal professionals, business executives, policymak-ers, regulators, and tech innova-tors to discuss how the digital age is reshaping the legal and regula-tory landscape. During a press conference in Lagos to announce the confer-ence, NBA-SBL Chairman Ozo-fu Latunde Ogiemudia stated that the theme was inspired by the rapidly evolving intersection of law, technology, and business. “Intelligent systems, ranging from artificial intelligence and machine learning to predictive automation, are transforming the way businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with regu-latory frameworks. “This conference is not just a response to that change, but an at-tempt to lead the conversation on how business law must evolve in order to thrive in this digital age,” she explained. According to Ogiemudia, the SBL conference has played an im-portant role in shaping the future of Nigerian business law. According to the Chairman of the NBA-SBL, the event is now widely regarded as the country’s flagship business law event, at-tracting legal practitioners, in-dustry leaders, entrepreneurs, and public sector stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond. This year’s event, she ex-plained, is designed to promote deeper engagement across key industries, highlighting dis-cussions about data protection, cross-border legal standards, AI integration, and other topics. “In today’s interconnected world, legal services must ad-here to international standards. Our clients compare us not only to our Nigerian peers, but also to American and European lawyers. “That means we must digitise, invest in legal technology, and shift our focus away from routine tasks and towards high-impact ad-visory,” she said. According to her, the three-day event will include an impressive line-up of activities, including five plenary sessions, six break-out sessions, two masterclasses, a structured mentoring session, an opening lunch, an exclusive net-working event for sponsors, and a now-legendary closing party. “His Highness Khalifa Mo-hamed Sanusi II, Chief Operating Officer of MRCana, a respected global business and innovation player, will deliver the keynote address. “The conference will also fea-ture an elite faculty of speakers known for their cutting-edge perspectives and innovative con-tributions to legal and business practice. “As we count down to July 2, we are inviting all stakeholders to participate in what we believe will be a watershed moment in Nige-ria’s legal-business evolution. Taking the stage after Ogi-emudia, Solape Peters, Chair of the 19th Conference Planning Committee, emphasised the crit-ical role lawyers play in shaping how technology affects business-es. “We are not just meeting for conversations. We lead initiatives that shape policy, legal frame-works, and, ultimately, the ease of doing business in Nigeria. “This conference is designed to create a shift in mindset, wheth-er you are just starting to under-stand the implications of AI and digital systems or are already actively incorporating them into your work,” Peters stated. She also stated that legal prac-titioners should be at the forefront of collaborative efforts with the government and legislature, especially as Nigeria develops structured frameworks for data protection, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital commerce. “We live in a globalised world, and we must prepare ourselves to think and act globally. “Whether you are a lawyer advising clients in agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, or finance, your legal advice has a direct impact on society,” she ex-plained. Cecilia Solon, NBA-SBL’s Pro-gramme and Content Chair, add-ed that the curated agenda reflects the legal profession’s emerging priorities, particularly in light of technological disruptions. According to her, the sessions will include discussions about data sovereignty, the impact of AI on contract negotiations, legal automation, cyber security risk management, and aligning local business laws with international compliance standards.