The Ernest Shonekan Centre for Legislative Reforms and Economic Development (ESC) and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) have signed an agreement to work more closely together to improve laws and rules that affect businesses in Nigeria.
The agreement was sealed on Thursday during a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony held at Summit House in Lagos.
ESC Chairman, Bukar Kyari, called the agreement a “strategic alignment” that shows how people in business and law can work together to fix the problems slowing down the country’s economy.
According to Kyari, the two groups have been collaborating since 2016, when they assisted in the review of numerous laws that have an impact on Nigerian businesses. That work was supported by international partners and led to the creation of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), which has helped pass important laws such as the Investment and Securities Act, the Credit Reporting Act, and the Arbitration and Mediation Act.
Kyari stated, “Today is not just a ceremonial exercise; it is the formalisation of a strategic partnership rooted in a shared vision to strengthen Nigeria’s legislative, judicial, and regulatory frameworks that support its economic transformation.
“This partnership is a strong statement that both the legal and economic communities recognise the value of dialogue, reform, and strategic alignment. Through this collaboration with the NBA-SBL, we will leverage legal expertise, policy insight, and stakeholder engagement to address pressing challenges and close the gaps that inhibit economic growth and legal efficiency.”
ESC’s Executive Director, Uchenna Ogbonna, in her address, said that the new partnership between ESC and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) will help fix the problems that make it hard to do business in Nigeria.
Ogbonna said that for many years, Nigeria’s progress has been slowed down by challenges in the country’s legal, regulatory, and justice systems. She believes this new agreement is an important step toward solving those problems.
She added that the new partnership will allow them to do even more, such as carrying out research, making policy suggestions, organising workshops, and creating platforms for regular talks with lawmakers and regulators.
She stated, “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards fostering a conducive business environment and driving sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. For too long, the advancement of our nation has been hampered by various challenges within the legislative, regulatory, and judicial systems, and these are challenges we continue to grapple with today. However, with this partnership, we’re taking a decisive step towards addressing these critical issues head-on.
“This partnership is not merely about signing the documents for us, it’s about forging a strong alliance that will actively work to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria. It involves creating platforms for dialogue with regulators, conducting meticulous research on legislative gaps, and providing timely insights into parliamentary decisions. We are confident that through our combined efforts, we will be able to foster an environment where businesses can thrive, where justice is accessible, and where economic prosperity becomes a tangible reality in Nigeria.”
The NBA-SBL Chair, Ozofu Ogiemudia, also stated that Nigeria must amend some of its outdated legislation to facilitate business investment, particularly in infrastructure such as roads and railroads.
Ogbonna also noted the need for harmonising business regulations to ease trade and movement for both nationals and foreigners operating in the country.
“NBA-SBL is proud to formalise this relationship. Working with the ESC enables us to support legal reform initiatives that not only align with global best practices but also respond to the practical needs of Nigerian businesses.”
