2026 NBA Conference: DELSU Law Dean, Prof. Beauty Alloh, Leads Faculty To Port Harcourt

By Andrew Ejovwo Abuza

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka (Oleh Campus), Professor (Mrs.) Beauty O. Alloh, led members of the Faculty to the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The eight-day conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” commenced on Friday, August 21, 2026, with a Jumat Service and was officially opened on Sunday, August 23, with a colourful opening ceremony at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The 66th NBA Annual General Conference brought together members of the Bench and Bar, government officials, academics, students, media practitioners, politicians, civil society organisations and other invited guests from across Nigeria and beyond.

In his opening address, the Chairman of the NBA-AGC 2026 Planning Committee, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, welcomed participants to the conference and called on members of the legal profession to move beyond traditional boundaries in line with the theme, “Beyond Limits.”

He described the theme as an invitation and challenge to transcend conventional practices, move beyond traditional courtroom boundaries and explore what Nigerian law can achieve.

The outgoing President of the NBA, Afam Osigwe, SAN, in his welcome address, noted that Port Harcourt was originally scheduled to host the previous year’s conference, making the NBA’s return to the city a significant milestone.

He urged lawyers to take up leadership roles rather than remain spectators in efforts to revive Nigeria’s economy and restore public trust.

The keynote address was delivered by former Liberian President, George Weah, who spoke on “The Bar, the Bench and the Building of Africa.”

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Weah stated that threats to democracy do not only come from gunshots at night or leaders who refuse to leave office after losing elections. He stressed that democracy can also collapse when judicial institutions are unable to perform their duties effectively.

He therefore urged African legal professionals and leaders to strengthen independent courts to protect peace, the rule of law and regional stability.

One of the major sessions of the conference was a conversation on Democracy and Governance, which featured prominent figures including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, Senator Dino Melaye, Esq., and presidential and vice-presidential candidates of some political parties in the 2027 presidential election, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Esq., and Omoyele Sowore.

The session took place at the conference venue on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Falana, a prominent human rights advocate, had earlier criticised the NBA’s decision to invite George Weah to address lawyers at the conference, describing the former Liberian President as a dictator who, according to him, undermined the judiciary and the rule of law in Liberia while in office.

Another major session was a conversation on Electricity in Nigeria, which brought together distinguished speakers to examine issues surrounding the country’s electricity sector.

The session was compered by Aeron Ologe, Esq., of the DELSU Faculty of Law.

The DELSU Faculty of Law delegation to the 2026 NBA-AGC included Professor (Mrs.) Beauty O. Alloh, Professor O. F. Emiri, SAN, Professor O. K. Edu, Professor A. C. E. Abuza, K. O. Uwubiti, Esq., Dr. J. P. Esavwede, Rufus Olarewanju, Esq., Dr. Brown Umukoro, Dr. (Mrs.) O. Eda, Dr. Ugo Ehirim, Dr. Gaga Ekakitie, Dr. Moses Omozue, Dr. (Mrs.) J. Chukwu, Dr. (Mrs.) J. Wawe, Mr. Aeron Ologe, Mrs. Martha Amaka Obi, and Miss Ovoke Igbigbi.

The conference featured plenary sessions, breakout tracks, professional engagements, sports finals, including football, and the Unbarred Social event.

The 2026 NBA Annual General Conference concludes today, Friday, August 28, with the NBA-AGC Press Conference and the swearing-in of a new National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, to be led by the President-Elect, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN.