Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, Barrister Clement Bibisa Kekemeke, has said the decision to invite renowned Kenyan lawyer, governance advocate and public intellectual, Professor Patrick Lumumba, as keynote speaker for the 2026 Law Week was aimed at elevating the conference to international prominence and deepening conversations on leadership, justice and institutional development.
Kekemeke spoke on Thursday when he led members of the NBA Yenagoa Branch on a courtesy visit to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, at Government House, Yenagoa, ahead of the association’s annual Law Week.
The delegation formally introduced Professor Lumumba and his wife, Celestine, to the Bayelsa government as part of activities lined up for the legal conference.
According to the NBA chairman, the inclusion of the celebrated Kenyan scholar was intended to broaden the scope of discourse at the event and attract global attention to issues affecting the legal profession and governance in Nigeria.
“Professor Lumumba was specially invited as keynote speaker to give this year’s Law Week international visibility and enrich discussions on the future of our institutions and society,” Kekemeke said.
He disclosed that the Yenagoa Branch currently has over 1,500 practising lawyers, making it one of the largest branches of the NBA in the South-South region.
Kekemeke also expressed appreciation to Governor Diri and his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, for receiving the delegation and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the legal profession.
Speaking during the visit, Governor Diri challenged the NBA to intensify efforts at enforcing professional ethics and discipline among its members, warning that declining standards could undermine public confidence in the legal profession.
Represented by Deputy Governor Peter Akpe, the governor stressed the need for legal practitioners to uphold the values that have historically earned the profession its respect and credibility.
He urged the association to use the 2026 Law Week as a platform for critical self-assessment and peer review, saying lawyers must continually measure their conduct and practices against evolving global standards.
Governor Diri commended the Yenagoa Branch for sustaining a tradition of legal scholarship and intellectual engagement, noting that the conference theme, resonates with the urgent need to build institutions anchored on justice, accountability and sustainable development.
The governor also hailed Professor Lumumba as one of Africa’s most influential voices on governance and ethical leadership.
“His presence in Bayelsa offers a unique opportunity for reflection on the future of our nation and the African continent,” he said.
Responding, Professor Lumumba described Nigeria as a pivotal force in Africa’s development trajectory, arguing that the continent’s fortunes remain closely tied to the country’s progress.
“Nigeria still occupies an important position in Africa. Whenever Nigeria punches its weight, the entire continent realises its full potential,” the Kenyan lawyer stated.
Lumumba, who said it was his second visit to Bayelsa, commended the state’s strategic location and enormous development potential, while thanking the government and people of the state for the warm reception accorded him and his wife.
Other members of the delegation included Chairman of the NBA Law Week Planning Committee, Mr. Jude Rex-Ogbuku, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Fedude Zimughan.
The 2026 NBA Yenagoa Law Week is expected to bring together legal practitioners, policymakers, academics and stakeholders from across the country to discuss pathways towards strengthening institutions and securing the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
