By Editor

*Conference kick-off in 30 days time at Eko Atlantic, Lagos *Tobenna Erojikwe briefs lawyers on preparations for annual event

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in charge of planning the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) has begun the 30 days countdown for the 62nd Edition of the Conference tagged the “Bold Transaction” which is set to hold from 19th – 26th of August, 2022 at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos State.

The TCCP has also released updates to the legal professionals and the general public as regards the planning of the AGC, 2022.

In an information release made available to ASKLEGALPALACE, signed by the TCCP Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe, the TCCP expressed its sincerest gratitude to members of the NBA for the overwhelming confidence placed by them on the Committee as well as the unprecedented interest in the AGC by members which the TCCP has been illustrated by the impressive registration figures recorded so far.

Furthermore, TCCP expressed its sympathy to members who failed to take advantage of the early bird registration period for the conference that lasted from the 12th June, 2022 – 17th July, 2022. The Committee stated that it had received appeals from some members asking for TR extension of the early bird registration, however, it stated the possibility of this was logistically impossible.

Giving reasons for non extension of deadline for early bird registration, the Committee in the release stated thus: “In fixing the early bird registration window, we took into account the fact that previous windows had historically been fixed for approximately 4 weeks with an extension typically lasting for 7 days. We therefore fixed an early bird registration window of 6 weeks to allow enough time for our members to take advantage of the discounted rates.”

It is also made it known that it had always through consistent communication established that it was planning to have an increase of physical participants slot from 11,000 to 13,000 and an unlimited virtual participants slot. According to the release, the TCCP has arrived at this after careful consideration of historical attendance figures and conference cost, such as the 2019 NBA-AGC which witnessed attendance of 11,694 delegates without an option of virtual participation as well as 2021 NBA-AGC which witnessed attendance of 10, 147 delegates inclusive of virtual participants. The Committee stated that it was for these reasons that it increased the capacity to 13000 while also making adequate arrangements for virtual delegates to enjoy a similar experience from the comforts of their homes or office.

It also stated that the reasons for the increase of the physical capacity is thanks to the increase in persons interested in the conference due to a number of factors which the Chairman cited as the positive records and members-oriented programmes of the Olumide Akpata administration, the reduction of conference fees and the exciting line up of events and sessions in this year’s NBA-AGCo.

Nevertheless, the Chairman of the TCCP made it known in the release that the TCCP never anticipated a huge spike in the registration figures as it had considered past figures of the previous conferences. It made it known that as at the time of closure of the early bird registration period, a total of 10,877 delegates had registered for the conference which represented that in just 1 month, the committee had already witnessed an exceeding of the total number of registered participants of the NBA-AGC 2021.

It also went on to state that the 10,877 registered delegates did not factor in allocation of slots to resource persons, sponsors, an colleagues in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government whose registration are usually delayed by the bureaucratic bottle-neck for which various government agencies are known for. And as such, the chairman made it known that it was in light of all these, that it became impossible to extend the deadline for early bird registration period as the conference spaces have been oversubscribed, and that there is the likelihood that all registration for the conference might soon come to an end.

Nevertheless, the chairman made it known that TCCP was not oblivious to the harsh conditions of the economy and urged members who are interested to quickly register for the conference in the coming days and that the committee would endeavor to give one last notice before maximum capacity has been reached.

It also urged participants to make use of the virtual option which would also provide a similar experience at the conference. According to the chairman, the virtual platform has a capacity to accommodate or 30,000 delegates stating that the registration for the virtual option was open until the eve of the conference.